Expectations in the athletic programs at Pella High School are at an all-time high after a record breaking season that marked the best ever in the school’s storied history.
The Pella Volleyball team may bear the brunt of those lofty goals first this fall after returning to the U.S. Cellular Center last season for a state tournament berth for the first time since 2010.
But the girls on this year’s roster may not fold under the pressure, says head coach Catie Brand, due in part to the numerous state appearances in other sports by the starting core of the team.
“I think any time you have that state experience and you play on that kind of big stage, it does help with the expectations you can have with everyone in your program,” she says.
Brand also feels the team–despite their knowledge of the atmosphere, can’t get caught up too much in trying to focus on the final goal of a state title, as there are other marks they would like to achieve off the court.
“We also want to make sure this season is not just about our competitive success,” Brand says. “This group of nine seniors are very close knit, they want to enjoy the experiences of the season: the team bonding, the trips–those are just as important to us as the state performances and the wins.”
Pella will begin the season on Tuesday, August 23rd with a home match against the Bombers of Ballard.