The Parkland High School girls volleyball team won the Parkland Invitational last weekend, highlighting an undefeated start to its 2022 regular season. It is a competitive tournament that features teams from outside the state, including Immaculate Heart Academy (#1 in NJ), Burnt Hills (#7 in New England area) and St. Anthony’s out of New York City. Pennsylvania teams included Bishop Shanahan, Big Spring, Emmaus and Pope John Paul.

Trojan head coach Mike Krause has seen the improvements in his team and how it has worked hard to be undefeated.

“We are learning about different responsibilities that have increased this season in comparison to last season,” said Krause. “We are learning situational times when it can be most effective and when we can use a more traditional approach, depending on the personnel at the net.

“We have played well in the EPC, currently 21-0 in sets. The challenge we have been trying to meet is consistency in controlling the tempo. Our serving is creating offensive opportunities by limiting some of the attack options from our opponents. Because it was early in the year, we were learning how the transition offense worked with moving the left side to the middle and middles to the left side. Our opposite hitting has improved in the areas of our opponents court we can attack. Our serve receive responsibilities are taking time to get [libero] Scarlett Jago familiar with new passers Ava Adamson, Kamira Hoover and Jackie Fekula. They are developing communication with their various serve receive patterns.”

There are plenty of girls in the lineup that Krause has seen contributions from.

“We have seen big growth in Luci Shellock’s blocking and her ability to attack when we are converting from defense to offense,” said Krause. “Madi Siggins has increased how high her contact point is when attacking the ball. Kamira Hoover has grown leaps and bounds in her overall play of serving, passing and defending developing synchronism with the defenders playing in the six position, Jackie Fekula and Ava Adamson. Maggie Smith has developed her timing with Elena Pursell. She has started connecting with reads of the first contact with outsides Ava Adamson and Alli Reimer. Scarlett Jago is now communicating with her hitters positions of our opponents and covering their attacks allowing the hitters to swing at the ball with more freedom knowing she is there to cover any blocked attacks.”

How can the Trojans continue their strong start? Krause believes it starts at practice and with his coaching staff.

“The most important component for us moving forward is the intensity of our practices,” Krause said. “Our assistant coaches are really challenging the girls and they are responding. If we can maintain that intensity on a regular basis, our growth could be exponential in every facet. Our seniors will take leadership in establishing and sustaining the daily practice regimen for growth.”