Pender looking for improvement in 2015

Team: Pender

Mascot: Pendragons

Colors: Red and White

Class: D-1

Head Coach: Melissa Hansen (1st season)

2014 record: 7-24

Returning Starters: 5


Overview:

The Pender Pendragons are under new leadership as Melissa Hansen takes over the program.

Pender returns five starters in Hallie Ballinger (JR), Sarah Schopke (SR), Kamryn Anderson (JR), Cierra Kirkland (JR), and Cecilee Jacobsen (JR).

The Pendragons will have to make up for the loss of outside hitter Shelby Roth, libero Lexi Ostrand, and outside hitter Rachel Schopke.

The returning starters will definitely help this team out. They are the strength of this team, according to Hansen.

The biggest thing for this team is to believe in themselves. Pender has to be confident this season if they want to win matches.

It will be important for all of these players to mesh well together, and work together as a team. The Pendragons need someone to step up and be a leader.

There's only one returning senior starter so Sarah Schopke definitely has to be one to step up and be a leader.

Pender is still a fairly young team, but look for the Pendragons to compete hard this season.

It's hard to put an exact number on how many matches Pender will win, but I think the Pendragons have a chance to improve on last year's win total and get to double digit wins.

Pender played well at times last season, they just weren't consistent enough to win or at least make things close on a nightly basis.

This year's Pendragon team has to be much more consistent in every match if they want to be an improved squad this season.

It will be important for Pender not to beat themselves. The Pendragons have to minimize unforced errors, in addition to serve, pass, hit, and communicate well.

Teamwork really will be the key to Pender's success. Everyone has to play hard every match, and play for one another.

The game of volleyball has to be fun, and the Pendragons must find ways to play loose throughout the season.

One loss can't lead to another for Pender. The Pendragons have to be able to put losses in the rearview mirror, and get focused on their next match.

At the same time, Pender can't get too hung up on a certain win. The Pendragons should enjoy each win, but refocus the next day at practice.

Pender has to find a recipe for success this season. That recipe has to be a combination of heart, tough play, determination, grit, and execution.


Season Outlook:

With five returning starters and a new coach, the Pender Pendragons have to be hungry, excited, anxious, and ready for a new season to begin.

Pender will be challenged by teams like North Bend Central, Emerson-Hubbard, Wakefield, Guardian Angels Central Catholic, Stanton, Wisner-Pilger, Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family, Oakland-Craig, West Point-Beemer, and Howells-Dodge.

The Pendragons have a very difficult schedule.

Things won't come easy for Pender this season, but I think the Pendragons will be a better team having played tough competition.

Pender will definitely be battle tested by the end of the season, and that should help them come sub district time.

The Pendragons have to make the most of their opportunities against the teams they have the best chance at beating. They include Scribner-Snyder, Neligh-Oakdale, Tekamah-Herman, Bancroft-Rosalie, Homer, Lyons-Decatur Northeast, and Clarkson-Leigh.

Pender may not win every one of those matches, but they have a better chance at beating them than the other teams listed above.

I wouldn't put it past the Pendragons to pull and upset or two this year. With so many tough matches, one would think Pender might be able to catch a certain team on an off night.

It may not happen, but the Pendragons have to play optimistic volleyball every time out.

Pender should be ready to go from the get go. The Pendragons have enough returning starters that growing pains should not be an issue.

It may take Pender a little time in the early season to get going, but for the most part the Pendragons should be ready to go.

I look for Pender to fight hard throughout the season, and win some matches. I don't know if the Pendragons will end up a .500 team or better, but I think Pender has a chance to be around the .500 mark, or a little below it.

With such a tough schedule, it's hard to envision the Pendragons doing much better than that. But who knows, maybe Pender will go out there and shock the world.

At the very least, the Pendragons should be able to lay a foundation for future success.

This is a very important year in terms of building for the future. This year is important too, and Pender has a chance to be successful, but in a coach's first year you always want to lay a foundation for success.



2015 Pender Pendragons Volleyball Schedule:

09/03-09/05	(To Be Determined)
09/08/15	North Bend Central	C1
09/08/15	Emerson-Hubbard	D1
09/17/15	Wakefield	C2
09/19/15	Scribner-Snyder	D2
09/19/15	Guardian Angels Central Catholic	C2
09/22/15	Stanton	C2
09/22/15	Wisner-Pilger	C2
09/29/15	Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family	C2
10/01/15	Emerson-Hubbard	D1
10/01/15	Neligh-Oakdale	C2
10/03-10/03	(To Be Determined)
10/06/15	@ Tekamah-Herman	C1
10/12/15	Bancroft-Rosalie	D2
10/13/15	Homer	C2
10/15-10/17	(To Be Determined)
10/20/15	Lyons-Decatur Northeast	D1
10/22/15	@ Oakland-Craig	C2
10/26/15	@ Clarkson/Leigh	C2
10/27/15	West Point-Beemer	C1
10/27/15	Howells-Dodge	D1