Fresh off their berth in the state volleyball title match, Northern Cass will seek to compete in the ultra-competitive Region 1 beginning November 30th at home.
Here's what coach Lucas had to say about the team
Is there a highlight or two that stands out from last season?
I would say the growth of our team, I felt we improved in all areas, these girls continued to accept the challenges they faced. Each player stepped up in their own way, we threw a lot of different things at them and they did a great job focusing on getting better as an individual and as a team.
Did you take your team to any camps this past Summer?
How did your team benefit from that?
We had a busy summer, we went to the VCSU Team Camp and the Mayville Team Camp, we were also part of the Court Plus League this summer. The team benefited from the bonding that happens at camps, the team bond and culture deepened this summer, that was the best part, you could see the girls having fun, competing and working as one. I have 12 returning varsity players, at different times they all stood out and improved which will be key for us this year.
Halle Crockett has been identified as a player to watch, how have you seen her improve over the years?
Halle continues to grow as a player and a leader, every year she makes great strides in improving her game. Over the summer I watched her game improve on the defensive side, she did a great job playing solid defense. When I visited with her before the season, she commented to me that she is seeing the floor better. Every year she improves a different part of her game, she is a hard worker and strives to make her team better.
Who are some of the other players that you anticipate will make an impact for you?
We have 4 Seniors returning, Emma Lucas (All-Region), Abby Richman, Maddy Zwetzig and Allie Slinger who is returning from injury. Keep an eye on Haidyn Crockett (9th) she is poised to have a break-out year.
Is there a certain aspect of the game that you think will be the strength of your team?
We have a very athletic team with a lot of length, this will give us the ability to get up and down the floor quickly and disrupt teams, we want to play a more up-tempo style this year, our depth should help us maintain a fast pace throughout the whole game.
How does the top-notch success on the volleyball court translate to basketball?
The success of the volleyball program has helped our team with our overall confidence and playing on the big stage, I watched it grow this summer, this group has a quiet confidence about them and it’s growing.
To boil it all down, what would make the upcoming season a successful one?
We are in a “prove it” mentality this year, we have all the pieces to have a great run, but we need to stick together and continue to grow as one.
Is there anything else you would like people to know about your program or players?
Northern Cass has come a long way, when these seniors started their journey our record was 1-20 and now to see the program competing with some of the best teams in the state shows the balance and growth of our program and that's a result of hard work and dedication. We have some great young players coming, keep an eye on: Haidyn Crockett (9th), Josie Jensen, Kayla Tretter and Ellie Lucas, all sophomores.
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