The Clinton Prairie volleyball team is 10-6 with a month left in the regular season.
The Gophers have had ups and downs this year, but are utilizing a new offensive strategy and starting to see the fruits of their work.
“Just like any team, we have our ups and downs,” Clinton Prairie volleyball coach Kathy Martin said. “It’s just really about believing in ourselves and coming together as a squad. When we flow, it looks really good. When we like to un-flow, it looks a little messy.”
Instead of a traditional offense, the Gophers are utilizing the triangle offense, which allows for more flexibility.
“In this type of offense, you put your three best hitters in a triangle,” Martin said. “So if you start them in the serving position, other corner in the back row, and then middle front, as they roll around, it allows them to swing at any point there up at the net. It allows our libero to play any position that we need.”
After a 3-1 start at the Hoosier Heartland Tournament, the Gophers suffered three losses in a row. Since then, they’ve bounced back to go 7-2 over their last nine matches.
The Gophers have leaned on a veteran defense with senior libero Campbell Carter and senior defensive specialist Ellie Brettnacher.
Offensively, a pair of sophomores, Kyndall Friedrich and Emmy Kaser, and transfer Lacey Chase lead the way.
Friedrich leads the team with 75 kills, while Chase and Kaser follow with 66 and 58.
Chase recently crossed over the 1000 career assist mark, while Brettnacher reached 500 career digs.
“We’ve been able to celebrate both of those,” Martin said. “Both of them are also captains. It says a lot about both of those kids coming in to be captains.”
After a sweep of Tri-County yesterday, the Gophers play Sheridan tonight and Taylor to round out the week.
“Sheridan is obviously a conference match,” Martin said. “We’ve seen them twice already this season, we’ve played them twice in tournaments, and they beat us twice, so we’re ready to roll. We want that competitiveness, and we know that’ll be a really good game for us going in.”
Listen to the full interview with coach Martin by clicking below.
Photos provided by Clinton Prairie Volleyball