Thirteen players make up this year’s Harvard Volleyball team, and two main things Head Coach Alyssa Pellot will have them focusing on is working as a team and talking on the court.
Harvard will begin its season Aug. 29 at the Newman Grove/St. Edward triangular, going against Heartland Lutheran and the host school.
New to the schedule this year is Gibbon, who they’ll play against Sept. 10, at home.
To prepare for each game, the Cardinals practice for a couple of hours after school Monday-Thursday, and then from 2:30-4:30 p.m., Friday.
Pellot said players she sees as team leaders this year are Haley Gimpel and Lilly Smith.
Having a positive attitude on and off the court is something she expects out of them, as well as for the girls to encourage their teammates at practice and games, as well as helping teammates who need help in understanding things fully.
Pellot also expects the positive attitude to flow from her other players, not just Gimpel and Smith. She also expects them to serve as positive role models and leaders for younger students.
Being a young team, it could present a challenge this season, but Pellot stressed she wants her athletes to focus on working as a team, regardless.
What she’s most excited about for the upcoming season is seeing all the hard work the girls have done together as a team, as well as seeing their growth as individuals to become better volleyball players.
Harvard will take on Diller-Odell at home Aug. 30, before traveling to the Heartland Lutheran Triangular on Sept. 3, where they’ll take on the hosts and Silver Lake.
A quadrangular at Red Clouds greets the Cardinals Sept. 5, where they’ll face off against Franklin, Red Cloud, and Shelton.
Another road game Sept. 14 will take them to the Newman Grove/St. Edward Lutheran Invite, before Harvard comes home to host three consecutive games, including two triangulars.
The first home triangular is set for Sept. 17, against Kenesaw and Lawrence-Nelson, while the second on Sept. 24 will host Axtell and Giltner.
The Cards will also host McCool Junction Sept. 19. They will have one more regular-season home game on Oct. 10, against Nebraska Lutheran.
For the remainder of the season, Harvard will travel to the Silver Lake double triangular Oct. 1, to take on Silver Lake, Elba, and Wilcox-Hildreth.
Then, on Oct. 17, they will travel to the Blue Hill triangular to take on the host school and Deshler.
