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The Ladycats volleyball team will be under the direction of the new Head Coach Sabrina Ferguson, and she has been preaching mental toughness in practices leading up to the season.
“We’ve been pushing really hard to become mentally tougher, improve our tempo, and be more disciplined in every aspect of our program,” Ferguson said. “We expect our athletes to compete at a high level both on and off the court. Academically, our expectation is that every player earns grades that reflect Academic All-District standards, regardless of which team they play on, and we plan to hold them accountable to that standard.”
This ties perfectly into Ferguson’s philosophy for the team heading into the season where she wants her team to not waste any opportunity placed in front of them.
“Our theme this season is N.O.W. – No Opportunities Wasted. Every practice, every rep, every classroom assignment, and every match is an opportunity to get better,” Ferguson said. “We’re also placing a huge emphasis on active communication. Great teams communicate constantly, and that’s something we’re determined to make one of our strengths.”
Ferguson said she is a passionate coach, and she feels her team is buying in.
“No wasted opportunity. It’s straightforward, but it means everything. Every opportunity to improve, lead, compete, or learn matters,” Ferguson said. “Once that opportunity is gone, you don’t get it back. I coach with my heart forward, and I’m starting to see this team play with their hearts forward. They’re buying into the culture we’re building. They’re competing for each other, and they’re locked in.”
The Ladycats do have two tournaments circled on their schedule, and Ferguson said it is a great opportunity to measure how much they have grown as a team over the summer.
“We’re really looking forward to competing at the Waller High School Tournament and the Legends Invitational,” Ferguson said. “Those tournaments will give us a great opportunity to measure the growth we’ve made since the summer and see how we stack up against quality competition before we get into the heart of our schedule.”
Ferguson said that every match is a chance for her team to learn and grow this season, and they are excited for the challenges that lie ahead of them.
There are a few players for Ladycat fans to keep an eye on these season and a couple of them are underclassman.
“Caroline Koehn and the Tolbert sisters (Ramesy and Locklyn) are going to be a challenge for anyone standing across the net, but Taitlyn Mican is someone people shouldn’t overlook,” Ferguson said. “She’s the type of player who quietly makes a huge impact. She does a lot of the little things that don’t always show up in the stat sheet but makes a big difference when it matters most. I’m really excited to see her lead this season.”
The Ladycats began their season on Tuesday, Aug. 11, which resulted in a loss to La Grange in five sets. The Ladycats will throw that game in the rearview mirror and continue to work to get back on track and hunt for a playoff spot.
