During their first off-season, the Griffin volleyball teams have begun working hard to maintain their skills and team comradery months before their next preseason even begins. As summer begins, the girls are setting up times to play and train together all in the name of progress.

To preserve the connection of the team, varsity coaches Mike Brandon and Dean Farley have a system for Monday through Thursday, excluding Wednesday, where four players at a time can come in and work on certain skills for their position or strength training and conditioning. Attending these sessions not only builds their skills but also provides them new opportunities to form relationships with their teammates.

“We do position training every week in small groups to keep working with each other,” junior Madison Schnell said. “As the season goes on we will meet the incoming freshmen and get to know them and work together.”

In addition to school volleyball, the girls have the opportunity to join club teams and continue playing year-round. Many of the girls play for the same club teams that occupy the metro. This allows them to continue to grow together fundamentally and emotionally, cherishing their bond and deepening their understanding of the game.

“I get to keep my connection with them through skills,” junior Nyah Potthoff said. “I also get closer to them personally, but it’s easier to transfer back to high school ball from the club while keeping the connection.”

Showing up to skill sessions and practice with a ready mind and attitude doesn’t go unnoticed by the coaches as the players take pride in keeping their mental game healthy.

“To prepare for my season mentally, some of us use NeuroFuel, an online season preparation site that helps us,” Potthoff said.

NeuroFuel is an app that guides users through visualization exercises that have the same effect on muscle memory as their physical activities.

Some of these skills could be learning to utilize positive self-talk, reducing stress and anxiety or minimizing self-doubt. These combined allow the girls to grow as one and work towards new goals.

“The leadership from the entire junior class is really good,” Farley said. “We have a really good group of girls that provide leadership for everyone else on the team.”

In order to make a strong team stronger, work and comradery must be put together for the team to grow and flourish no matter the season they’re in.