Most volleyball teams evolve over the course of a season. Coaches make adjustments designed to help the team play to its strengths, and hopefully have more success.
The Mingus High School volleyball team is no exception.
After losing its first three matches this season, the Marauders have now won seven of their last 10 matches, including four of six at the Estrella Foothills tournament Sept. 20 and 21 in Goodyear.
The Mingus girls hosted the River Valley Dust Devils on Thursday, Sept. 26, and made short work of the team from Bullhead City with a 3-0 [25-15, 25-13, 25-8] victory that showed how far the Marauders have come in just the first month of the season.
Marauders volleyball coach Amanda Puckett said the girls just needed to build their confidence, and their success at the Estrella Foothills tournament helped them achieve that.
“They’re pulling together more and getting used to [each other], and it’s really starting to click,” Puckett said.
One of the changes Puckett has made was going from a 5-1 rotation [five hitters and one setter] to a 6-2 rotation [six hitters and two setters], with senior Angel Chavez now sharing setting duties with senior Aubrey Tuell.
“It wasn’t my original plan, I would’ve liked to have just run the 5-1 with Aubrey Tuell as the setter,” Puckett said. “But it’s working better to have the team running a 6-2 and having Angel also setting.”
For her part, Chavez said she’s enjoying the change.
“It’s different because this is my first year setting,” said Chavez, a fourth-year varsity player. “I like to play more defense, because I only set out of the back row so I don’t get to play a lot of defense [now], but I like it though.”
For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Oct. 2, issue of the Cottonwood Journal Extra.
