Volleyball is so quick, competitive, fun, and energetic and you coaches have done it for such a long time - how do you match the players' energy? Each year I see there are new positives and challenges. Again, how do you always stay a step ahead of trends and keep it so competitive year in and year out?

As coaches, we are challenged every day, week, month, and season with attempting to maintain a top contender in the NJCAA top tier of programs. What I know we do a good job at as a staff is professional development opportunities. We have a ton of support from our athletics office to attend high-level club events where we get to recruit the best local talent and then broaden our scope to a regional or zonal area.  We have learned that we don't really need to match levels but rather be present and try to stay mindful.  This may sound a little Steve Kerr like but it's really not about the coaches, it's about getting the players to play at about 90%, comfortable, and enjoy it. Networking with big school coaches, and attending camps, and clinics are other ways that we find out about some of the newest trends and tools that we can use in the gym.

Surely new recruits are coming to play for MCC again this year! Are you excited about some of your new players? In a two-year school, your roster is perpetually changing. Are there any players from last year that will have a bigger role this season?

We are constantly recruiting in and forward for our program.  Every year we expect a little more from our returners and that is no different this fall. It will be fun having another set of sisters in the Ricci's from McHenry. We have a great class coming in and every year around this time it gets exciting to see who did what in the off-season.

Any coach will be competitive, but your team is always at the top. What are your new goals for this season? Do you set individual goals for any players? For example, for a setter, we want so many assists during the regular season. If so, what are they?

We have benchmarks for our team's performance for every match. This year we will introduce more stats/information in practice which I am super excited about using Balltime - which is an AI-driven program for matches and practice. Being at the top in the region is one thing but we have bigger goals like a final 4 or better at the National tournament. We have been to the dance six times with finishes no less than 10th and a 7th place best. We still have plenty of work to do as coaches to prepare our team.

So many sports are changing due to rules changes and alike. In basketball the three-point line changed the game; in NFL football there are new kick-off rules; in baseball extra innings are so different now vs just five years ago. Are there any trends or rule changes you see changing the game over the years, or is volleyball exempt and the game maybe is just getting faster with heavier hitters?

This year the double contact on the same side of the net will be removed for college. I think this is a positive move for the sport and will increase the action of the game however I think it will give an advantage to a less skilled team. The implementation of challenge replay is coming up fast at all levels including two-year colleges. Refs just want to get it right and the tech is ready to assist.

Opening Weekend Tournament (OWT) is a tournament that so many teams attend to start the volleyball season. Can you explain how this tournament helps your team prepare for the season? It must jump-start the competitive spirit in your players, but in your words,  what do you expect each year for ways your team can benefit from such a busy national tournament?

OWT is the largest women's two-year college event in the country by far. It is hosted by All In Volleyball (not MCC) and brings 74 teams from all across the country to Rockford, Illinois as the first opportunity to play officially for the season. An event like this allows our team to be immersed in the level of the top teams in the country. 16/20 of the NJCAA DII teams from the National tournament will play in OWT 2024 and that alone is the company we desire to be a part of. Additionally, the event allows us to get a great amount of team time together and culture-fitting experiences.

A lot of coaches create themes for their teams to help carry them through the year. A slogan maybe, like "Energy and Effort" or something like that?

We have an ongoing motto of Team, Teammate, Self. That hasn't needed to be altered just yet.

I have been to your practices, and music booming from the boom box is integral to practice…who is the DJ for this energetic and fun team?

Shari or I play music. The vibe has to be right for a fun environment. Sometimes we will play music as a distraction. As a reward sometimes we will let a player take the aux.

Good luck with having a successful season. It is always great to see your teams compete.