The pressure is building for Xavier College Preparatory’s volleyball and golf teams. Xavier’s volleyball and golf teams enter their seasons with championship titles to defend and new goals to accomplish.
However, bringing home the state title will not be easy. With new players joining both teams, challenging opponents and the expectations that come with being state championship winners, both teams are working hard to prove that this year will be just as successful as the last.
For the volleyball team, this season brings a younger group for players. Not only does the team have only one senior but four freshwomen join the team, something the program has not experienced in a long time.
Despite having a young team, the volleyball program has high expectations for this new season. Volleyball coach Lamar-Renee Bryant hopes to develop her younger players to become strong competitors and to be up for the challenge of competing for the state championship title.
One of the team’s main focuses this season will be helping the younger players understand the traditions and expectations of Xavier volleyball.
“Xavier volleyball is rooted, just like the school, in tradition. We have a lot of young players and we are making sure they understand where Xavier volleyball wants to go and where it has been,” Bryant said.
This year the coaching staff will focus on explaining the reason behind what players are asked to do. Understanding why certain skills and expectations are important will help the younger players adapt more quickly and perform at the highest level.
“The biggest challenge will be how young we are. Most of the people we are playing are older, so having to mature quicker for the younger girls is going to be important,” said Tessa Larkin ‘27, volleyball standout.
Last season, strong senior leadership and complete team effort played an important role in Xavier’s state championship victory. Although the team only has one senior, Larkin, this season, Bryant hopes that leadership will continue to help develop the younger players and teach them what it means to be a Gator.
While volleyball prepares to defend its state championship on the court, Xavier’s golf team is working toward another successful season on the course.
The team hopes to continue building strong relationships within the team while competing successfully in matches and invitationals. One of the team’s main goals is to create a strong bond between players of every grade level.
Returning leaders Alexis Lamadrid ‘27 and Emily Moussa ‘27 have already helped bring the team together and encourage younger players to interact with the rest of the team.
“Just build upon the camaraderie that the girls have. We have two good leaders in Alexis and Emily, and they’re doing a really good job in trying to get all the freshmen together and sophomores together,” said head coach Tui Selvaratnam.
The team’s biggest challenge this year will be preparing for the state tournament. Between schoolwork, fall break and several weeks with limited practice time, the team will have to stay prepared and focused leading up to the tournament.
The effort was especially important last season, as Lamadrid performed strongly and won both team and individual honors.
Although Xavier volleyball and golf compete in different environments, both teams share the same challenges, living up to the success of last year’s championships while developing new players and building up teams to make them stronger.
For both teams, another state championship will need more than just one player’s effort. Xavier’s defending champions will need to rely on consistency, leadership and teamwork as they work toward another opportunity to bring home the trophies.
