Samantha Flores is a week far from tryouts for the Lady Wildcat volley ball groups at Deming High School. On August 14, Flores is anticipated to divide her program into 3 groups: C-team, junior university and university.
“We have all been playing together in practice and the concept is to build team unity and bonds,” said Flores, the brand-new DHS head volley ball coach. “It doesn’t matter what level you are playing at, we are all on the same team and supporting each other.”
Flores took a group of ladies to Hatch Valley High School for a round-robin skirmish versus location schools. The matches were an eye opener for Flores and the gamers.
“The girls did some good things that we have been working on and saw huge gains,” Flores said. “They also recognized areas that need more work.”
The professional athletes just recently finished a week of two-a-day practices that concentrated on conditioning. Flores kept in mind that the gamers came through the week having actually checked their nerve and endurance.
“It was hard for them, but they pushed through and came ready to work,” she said.
Flores has actually included her other half, Christian Flores, as an assistant university coach. He will likewise cover the C-Team program till a head coach can be employed. Nicole Camacho, Flores’ sibling, is the junior university coach.
The Lady ‘Cats have been characterized as a defense-minded team in recent years. They have been put in that posture by facing a murderer’s row of huge schools throughout a difficult non-district part of the volley ball schedule.
Flores wishes to alter that understanding and make the Lady ‘Cat program a more positive and assaulting program.
“We can only do so much to pump up the girls,” Flores informed the Headlight. “The rest is up to them. They have to want it enough to go after it. Once they start to see the rewards of positive efforts on the court, we can change the mentality.”
A huge part of the modification is through returning gamers who can offer the modification to their younger colleagues.
Seniors Brizella Baeza (5-7), Amanda Santistevan (5-6), Mariana Mendez (5-6), Kristen Garcia (5-6) and junior Carlie Maynes (5-6) have actually offered management in practice and will be depended on to bring that positive energy to the university program.
Communication amongst the gamers has actually been a welcome possession to the program. Flores hears the ladies talking amongst themselves and supplying assistance for the younger gamers.
Junior Carlie Maynes has actually established a dive serve that she has actually been dealing with in volley ball practice. (Billy Armendariz/Deming Headlight)
“The varsity core is strong this year, but so are the core of returning players at the lower levels,” Flores suggested. “The sophomores and juniors are communicating with others and even the freshmen are helping out. There is engagement at all levels and it has really made a difference in the work getting done in practice.”
It has actually permitted coaches to spend more time examining skill.
The season formally starts on August 14, and the very first match will be on the roadway at Socorro High School on Tuesday, Aug. 29. All 3 groups will see action.
The university will set up the offense and defense after Aug. 14 when the tryouts have actually ended and the groups are divided into C-team, junior university and university.
Flores said, “We have been working on basic coverages and we plan to see what offense works best for our varsity personnel. There is still a lot of work in front of us, but we can control the ball, and that will go along way in helping us determine where we go from that point.”
The 3 groups will advance the roadway at Las Cruces High on Tuesday September 5.
Only the university Lady ‘Cats will get in the Sweet 16 Invitational Tournament in Las Cruces on Sept. 8-9.
The initially home match will be Tuesday, Sept. 12 versus the Organ Mountain High Knights. Match times are at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. Tickets should be bought online at GoFan.co.
Billy Armendariz is the Headlight sports editor. He can be reached at [email protected].
