The new varsity volleyball coach, Bonnie Priester, says she’s impressed with the talent on the volleyball team and has high hopes and expectations as the Lady Wildcats take to the courts to gear up for the upcoming volleyball season. The first test for the Lady Wildcats will be on Tuesday in a preseason game versus Eau Gallie High in the Palm Bay High School gym.

“My expectations are to surprise the other schools,” Priester said. “We’ll play to show that West Shore is no longer a pushover and is ready to play power volleyball. We’re changing everything about the way we approach the game, including: hustle, heart and our ‘cattitude.’”

Under Priester’s coaching, the players incorporated new drills and new strategies into practice, while individually continuing to improve their fundamentals. Teamwork is emphasized because the biggest challenge facing the Lady Wildcats is combining the players’ individual talents into a finely honed team that acts as one unit.

Assistant Coach Jim Petrowski agrees with these sentiments and says that a little more teamwork on the court will go a long way in making the season more successful than last season’s 6-12 campaign.

“I’ve known [the varsity players] since they came into this program,” JV and former varsity Coach Nikki Anagnostis said. “My vision to this point was to train them as competitive volleyball players. I think we’ve accomplished that; now Coach Priester is here to teach them how to win.”

By Aalekhya Tenali