It is early in the season for the Cougar varsity volleyball team, but they have already proven to be serious contenders. I had the pleasure of speaking to head volleyball coach, Heather Sanders, to gather some insight for this promising season.
The history of Canyon volleyball is both rich and prestigious; a status the team fights to maintain as it upholds the motto of “Our roots run deep”. Coach Sanders stated that the team is focused on “upholding the standard of Canyon volleyball that has been set by the teams before us.”
By preserving the Canyon tradition of playing with an undying passion and dedication, the team looks to continue on the hot streak they have achieved so far into the season. When I asked what stood out about this new team, Coach Sanders noted that many of the players she is coaching now are players she has already coached in the past during club volleyball. Two of the players she is coaching now have older sisters that she coached in previous seasons. “It feels like I’ve known them for a very long time”, she notes. It is clear that the roots in “Our roots run deep” have taken hold to make this a very special season.
The team has strived to stay unified as a team since the start of the season. After their first week of play, Coach Sanders scheduled a team lock-in where they started to assess their aspirations for the remainder of the season. They set goals, played games together, completed team-building activities, and had dinner together.
Traveling has also contributed a large sum to their bolstered team chemistry as noted by Coach Sanders. She added, “We traveled together, we stayed overnight for a tournament. Any time you stay overnight and have all your meals with your teammates, that helps.”
At the conclusion of our interview, I asked her for one constant that she expects to get out of her players throughout the season. In turn, she responded, ”On the court, just a relentless pursuit of the ball. Off the court, celebrating one another no matter their role; understanding everyone’s value and what they bring to the team.” Coach Sanders certainly wants not only what is best for the team, but what is best for her players.
The Cougar varsity volleyball team currently sits with a 20-11 record and is ranked 49th in the state by MaxPreps for the 2024-25 season. Their next game is tonight at 7:00 pm away at Antonian Prep, and we wish them good luck for the remainder of their season.
