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With the start of a new season, the Rice Lady Raiders Head Coach Morgan Hunter has already set the expectations for her team.
“The first expectation for this year’s team is to understand that the standards are being raised from last year. We are preaching being a team first and to learn to push through frustrations and adversity when things get hard. After all, that is the biggest translation from volleyball to real life,” Hunter said. “The girl’s attitudes have been great so far and we will be expecting that out of them through the entire season.”
Hunter put an emphasis on mental toughness throughout practices and scrimmages early this season. She wants her team to process mistakes quickly and move onto the next point.
That ties into the Lady Raiders’ philosophy this season; block out the noise.
“The message that we have started preaching to the team tune out the noise. The ‘noise’ looks different from player to player (nerves, lack of self-confidence, hardships at home, friend struggles, etc.)” Hunter said. “The goal is for these ladies to individually recognize what their ‘noise’ is and learn to tune it out when they step onto the volleyball court. I want the game of volleyball to be a safe and fun space for these athletes and to be something they look forward to and enjoy, no matter what else is going on off the court.”
Hunter also shared what she expects from her returning players.
“We have nine returning varsity players from last year,” Hunter said. “Their roles this year might look different, and may change from game to game, but I am looking for each of these athletes to show growth in the game mentally and physically.”
The Lady Raiders opened their season on Tuesday, Aug. 11, when they hosted Sacred Heart in a four-set loss. The Lady Raiders will learn from that loss and quickly shift their focus back to improving and getting back into the win column.
