The nets are up, the volleyballs are out, and the players have on their knee and elbow pads ready to bump, set, and spike into the new season. During the team’s first practice of the season we talked to Coach Michel (Shel) DeLisle about the season.

Expectation for the Season

Coach DeLisle is looking forward to the start of the new season, not only because the team won the playoffs and advanced to the semi-finals last year, but also to see how the new recruits will compete. She believes the team will have a good season this year, as they are in their second year as a D2 team and have freshly recruited players as well as three captains to aid and guide their fellow teammates to victory.

I asked her what some of the team’s issues were last year, and it seems size was a problem, but not anymore. “A lot of the incoming players are anywhere between 5’10” and 6,’ and I think that’ll help us,” says coach DeLisle. “Having the ability to put up the big blocks and match them for size.”

Coach’s Take on Team Captains:

The three returning captains are: Hannah Council, Sam Siehr, and Paige Siehr. The coach says Hannah Council, who was the setter this year and last year, became a defensive setter. She developed her ability to handle passes and improved at the net, along with her excellent increased ball control. The second captain is Paige Siehr. She played middle last year but managed to do six rotations, and played all around without being rotate out. Paige divided her time between middle and outside this year. Even D1 coaches are discussing the possibility of recruiting her and having her play for their teams. The third captain, Sam Siehr, is characterized as having a lot of energy. She lays the ball down hard and is a six rotation outside, scurrying for everything in the back row, with a variety of weaponry at her disposal, and in her role as captain, she trains and shares her knowledge and skills level with the new incoming players. Following the discussion of the three captains, Coach DeLisle brought up Savannah Wright, a returning player who played as a middle last season. In the off-season, she is said to put in a lot of effort. She works with a trainer to lift weights and perform jump training, and she is “extremely coachable.” She rises far above and over the net.

Players Mental Health

I wanted to know whether Coach DeLisle does any mental health exercises or team pep talks with her players. She informed me that the team practices for a total of five hours of which three are spent in the classroom. They discuss how having expectations may cause anxiety and they employ a breathing technique strategy. First, players close their eyes, then they take a deep breath and let go of any tension they may be feeling. They let go of any negativity or anxiety, visualize their success and relax their minds. Another method that coach Delisle uses to help her players regain focus is known as the “five senses.” They first focus on five objects that can be seen, then four objects that can be touched, then three objects that can be heard, two objects that can be smelled and finally one object that can be tasted. She also talks about checking in with players during academic events to see how they are doing.

Team Captain Excited for the Season

All three captains expressed their excitement for the season, knowing that despite being a young team, they have so much promise.They all think this season will be a fantastic one. When asked about their first game on August 23rd against Iowa Lake Community college and how they feel about it being the first of the season, they all expressed excitement for the game as well as knowing that this will be a successful year for the team. Even Coach DeLisle has stated the same thing, emphasizing how she is positive about it.  As of August 24,  the Women’s Volleyball team is 4-0 with a sweep to start off the season.