Young team, big dreams

New girl’s volleyball Coach Kellen Costulis is focused on rebuilding because the team graduated a huge number of key players last year. Costulis is a former ODU club player, and has high hopes for the team.

“Coach Costulis texted all the girls and welcomed them, [and also] invited a lot of people to the open gyms,” said senior Jamie Bissmeyer.

Bissmeyer is a setter, and a captain of the team.

“[Costulis is most excited about] the new girls and meeting everyone,” said Bissmeyer. “She likes being a mom to everyone.”

Volleyball is a team sport that requires players to communicate, trust each other, and most importantly have fun.

“I enjoy it a lot. It’s very different than my past experiences just because I felt more included from the start,” said junior Mia Langley. “I really appreciate the girls on the team.”

Langley is the new libero and was a former player for the Bayside Marlins.

“The thing that excites me most about this season would be getting closer to the girls on the team and improving on my skills individually,’’ said Langley.

Volleyball individually requires a lot of skill, technique, and good judgement.

“The only thing that is different with a young team is focusing on different skills and techniques during practice,” said Costulis. “With more inexperienced teams, we would focus on more fundamental skills, including passing, setting, hitting, and serving technique. More experienced teams would include running more plays and more advanced skills, such as jump serving.”

Practicing is how to get better individually as well as a team in volleyball; a team cannot have a single weak link. Everyone needs to be able to do what is needed to win.

“The most memorable moment of the season so far was playing in the Endless Summer Tournament and spending the day together as a team and winning,” said Costulis.

All in all, the team has come a long way from losing half of their roster and their coach. They finished the season 8-10 after two tough losses to Cox and First Colonial.