The Xavier College Prep volleyball team is back to work following a lengthy offseason due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last season the team finished with a record of (30-12) and made a run for the AIA Conference 6A championship, but fell short in the quarterfinals to Highland, taking a 3-2 loss. 

The loss motivated Xavier. 

“That moment that we lost, I definitely felt that we were going to be even better going into the following season,” middle blocker Isabella Sinacori said.” Sometimes losing teaches you to have to come back better and stronger.”

Xavier has seven new players and seven returners this season. Key departures include middle blocker Jasmine Knight and outside hitter Briana McKnight, who both went on to sign with Division I colleges. Some of the key returners include setter Alexa Shiner, Reyes, Sinacori and outside hitter Emma Soderstrom. Last season Shiner had 1,253 assists, Reyes 79 kills, Sinacori 70 kills, and Soderstrom 32 digs. 

New players to watch include sophomore setter Maddie MacDonald and senior middle blocker Phoebe Lewis. who both could potentially put up big stats this season.

“I think we can go really far, I think we can have a shot at state this year,” Shiner said. “I think we can go as far as we can push ourselves.”

One of the biggest challenges for the Gators is the late start to practice. The team wasn’t given the go-ahead to begin until late August in comparison to other schools in the 6A Premier Conference who began in July. 

“The season is coming no matter what,” head coach Lamar-Renee Bryant said. “We are going to do our best, we’re going to fight, we’re going to be competitive, and we’re going to get better every day and at the end of the day, that’s what matters.”

With the little time given to prepare the team feels confident it can stand its ground.

“I think with the time that we have, we have done pretty well,” Reyes said. “This season we are really going to push our team to make sure we’re not only performing when the state playoffs happen, but every single game like it’s the state finals.”

The team set an early tone with a 3-0 sweep over the 6A State Champs Basha and wins over Chaparral and Chandler.