Squad eager to put disappointing 2012 season behind them
By Drew Herron - NT Sports Editor / Aug. 21, 2013
ATLANTIC – A new day for Trojans Volleyball is about to begin.
One year after the program muddled through a winless season, this group of Trojans is hard at work under the direction of a new head coach as Atlantic looks to make great strides forward in 2013.
Now at the helm of the ship is head coach Bonnie Clinch, a 2007 graduate from Lewis Central who played collegiately at Nebraska Christian College, where she was a two-time captain.
Clinch says the girls and the program didn’t waste much time turning the page from last year, and embracing the new attitude of Trojans Volleyball.
“We’ve talked a lot about mental toughness,” coach Clinch said this week. “What it means to fight back when you fall behind. When you make a mistake, you can’t let that bring you down, you have to move on. Mental toughness is something we talk about every day.”
Atlantic struggled in nearly all facets of the game last year. The Trojans finished last in the Hawkeye 10 not just in the standings, but also in nearly every statistical category. On offense, their 260 kills accounts for about a quarter of the totals posted by the top three teams in Lewis Central (1,103), Kuemper (1,089) and Red Oak (1,062).
Defensively, the team fared slightly better in some areas, where they were a bit more competitive in blocks-per-set (1.88), total blocks (130) and digs-per-set (7.57).
Amongst the changes Clinch has implemented so far with the Trojans is a strong emphasis on defense, stressing fundamentals and technique, especially with passing.
“Back to the basics, really,” she said. “The small aspects of passing, like where the feet go and where the arms are angled. We will build up to the fancier stuff, but right now, we are simplifying.”
The Trojans don’t open the regular season until the day after Labor Day (Sept. 3) at home against Glenwood, but they have their annual Trojans Night scrimmage Friday evening, followed with the IGHSAU Volleyball Clinic Saturday at AHS.
Returning for Atlantic is its top two offensive threats from a season ago in Meghan Reilly and Bailey Walter, who combined for 105 kills. Defensively, the two also led the team in blocks with Reilly topping the team with 43, and Walter finishing tied for second at 25 blocks. Walter is expected to take on the role of setter, where she saw significant time a year ago behind then-senior Shelby Worth.
Competing in the Hawkeye 10 Conference is going to be tough as usual, as three teams (Harlan, Red Oak, Kuemper) reached the State Tournament last season. Increase that total to four if you count Council Bluffs St. Albert, this year’s new addition to the conference.
Clinch says last season is the past, and the Trojans enter this season with expectations to become a far more competitive team.
“What I’ve seen is the girls just don’t know how to win, it’s just not something they are used to. That’s something we are working on, we are doing a lot of competitive drills and things where they have to compete and have to win,” she said.
“There is definitely some talent. I am really excited about what we have. I have a feeling we are going to be really good.”
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