Brendan Mau is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Ironwood High School for AZPreps365.com.

The Ironwood Eagles’ girls volleyball team looks to use its experience and mental and physical  toughness to put together a good season this fall semester, according to head coach Lisa Lopez. 

The Eagles finished 9-8 last season and 8-9 the previous season, but are looking to better their record with improved team chemistry despite a difficult schedule.

“I’m anticipating a lot of teams on our schedule are going to be really tough,” said Lopez who begins her sixth season coaching the varsity team. This schedule does not deter Lopez, though. “[This schedule] is good. It is good competition for the girls.”

Ironwood will be led by senior captains Kaylee Logan, Cori Vaquera and Mallory Rich. The team has six seniors, three of which have been on the team since freshman year, five juniors, one sophomore and one freshman. The seniors have been doing a good job using their leadership and place on the team to include and not leave out any of the younger players, Lopez said. Of the 13 players on the roster, five  are getting looked at by colleges. 

The team was able to practice this summer but were limited in what they could do and phased everything in as time went on. To cap off their preseason, the Eagles had a scrimmage against Barry Goldwater and Boulder Creek on September 18, where they were all able to play together for the first time and learned some of what they need to work on to get better, according to Lopez.  

Lopez’s goal for the season is for the team to “learn how to complete the task at hand,” which entails going strong all five sets and putting the game away right away. She is looking forward to getting to know the newer girls on the team, having everyone continue to develop team chemistry and seeing her team improve day by day. 

“Every game we expect to be a challenge,” Lopez said. “We don’t want to go easy on anybody and we don’t want to take anybody for granted.” 

“Our goal is to always get to state and I feel that we have been inching our way [there] … These last three years, I feel like we have gotten just a little better every year come playoff season.”

Lopez believes this could be the season Ironwood gets into the playoffs because of the team’s experience.