With a week to go before team tryouts start, the Flathead Bravettes volleyball team is ready for a 1996-97 season full of promise.
"I think we'll be really good," said senior Shannon Grace. "We only lost one senior and we should be really deep."
Last season, the Bravettes lost their first two games at the state tournament and were eliminated from title contention. However, the team hopes to play better this season.
"We hope to play consistently," said Bravettes head coach Debbie Carlson of this season. "We want to play well as a team."
The Bravettes are lead by four seniors, all with varsity experience, from last season.
"We have several kids coming back," Carlson said. "(Seniors) Shannon Grace, Delaney Sock, Mandy Strong, Sharon Bartholemeau all got a lot of playing time last year."
Carlson is appreciative of each of these players' individual talents.
"They do such different things for the team," said Carlson. "Where Mandy is a great defensive player, Shannon and Delaney are both great at the net. We also have Jodi Hagestad coming back to play setter."
"Our weaknesses will probably be in ball-handling skills," said Carlson. "(But) I think we'll be a pretty smart team. We'll take care of the ball well when we need to - when we need to attack and when we're being attacked."
The Bravettes will have a new assistant coach this year - Karen Downs, who previously played volleyball in college.
"The (assistant) coach is going to be cool because she played for the Griz," said Strong. "It should be competitive this season."
The season starts Jan. 10-11 in the Great Falls tournament. The state tournament is held in Billings in mid-March.
"I expect that this year will be one of our best," said Sock. "We have a lot of returning starters and we all get along really well."
"I'm excited," said Grace. "We'll do really well. It'll be a fun year."