By Sienna Villa

 Phoenix – The Sierra Linda Bulldogs look to bite back this season. Girls varsity volleyball returns, but don’t expect their rocky season last year to carry over.

 

 

Head coach, Edith Garcia, coaching her second year, looks forward to a season of positivity and improvement.

 

 

“We had a really tough schedule last year and it was my first year, so I was learning and growing with my girls,” said Garcia.

 

 

Finishing with a 1-18 record, Garcia went into this year establishing a smaller team of 10 girls to balance their skills and playing time. Now, starting the 2017 season with a 0-1 record, the 25-year-old head coach said staying low and covering will be worked on throughout the season.

 

 

Senior, Gabriella Acosta, sees the improvement in not only mechanics but teamwork. “The team this year has improved from last year. This year is going to be a good season and we’re going to win because we connect more,” said Acosta. 

 

 

Next to Acosta nodding her head, teammate Vanessa Amavisca. As one of the freshman on the team, Amavisca said she blends in well and brings a positive attitude to the court. Not having been on the team last year, she still wants to be a part of the rebuilding process.

 

 

“We want our school to see that we work together as a team and we don’t give up,” said Amavisca.

 

 

Garcia said she looks forward to seeing how her girls play against tough teams this season and wants fans to be supportive, too. Garcia and her girls encourage fans to come out and watch the team face a challenging schedule, but with a different mindset and mechanics.

 

 

“I want the school to know that the girls are working hard and that they are going to get more wins, that’s the goal,” said Garcia.

 

 

The Bulldogs, who play Poston Butte Wednesday, lost their opener to the Raymond S. Kellis Cougars last Tuesday.  The Bulldogs did not trail far behind the Cougars in the three sets.  The non-conference match ended in a 3-0 loss.  Garcia said the girls playing well against Kellis set the tone for the rest of the season.