While there's been plenty of time spent on the physical side of the game, the Jefferson City volleyball team has also focused on the mental aspect during the preseason.
"We're trying to understand volleyball better than maybe our program has in the past," Jefferson City head coach Lisa Hoffmeyer said. "We would always play really hard and were really aggressive, but haven't necessarily always understood why we're doing what we're doing.
"So we're trying to slow it down, involve a little more video, have our kids see things more visually and understand things better. I think that's a big difference from winning at the JV level and winning at the varsity level - now you're playing kids who understand how to break you apart. So we're trying to get better at doing that to other teams and understanding what's happening across the court from us."
The Lady Jays will get their first chance to see how the new approach works when they open the season today at St. Joseph's Academy.
"You always wish you had more time to practice, but we feel like we've been moving forward," Hoffmeyer said. "The kids are confident in the progress we've made from summer until now. They're starting to play like a team and things are starting to come together."
Coming off a trying, sub-.500 season last fall, team unity was a big emphasis.
"These girls are not a finger-pointing group," Hoffmeyer said. "It's not someone else's fault, they understand the concept of "we' and they're working hard to come together. The kids who were part of things last year don't want to be a part of that kind of thing again."
That positive attitude was already on display earlier this week.
"These kids respond real well to adversity, one of the best groups I've ever worked with in regard to that," Hoffmeyer said. "I watched them Tuesday night at our Jamboree and their response was just great, exactly what you would wish and hope for from your kids. They just do it naturally."
A little harder to come by is the chemistry between the setters and hitters.
"Early on in the summer, we realized attack consistency was going to be a big, big, big deal for us," Hoffmeyer said. "We have a lot of kids who want to hit the ball really hard, regardless of where it ends up. They'll take that one-in-four big shot, that beautiful kill and the three that sail out of bounds.
"We don't have the chemistry quite yet between our setters and out attackers, where we're just firing on all cylinders. Sometimes hitters have to adjust to a set that's not perfect. They have to realize that it is then their job to keep the ball in play, not just go ahead and bear down and try to crush one."
Injuries are making it tougher to develop cohesiveness.
Jayme Baumgartner, a senior defensive specialist, recently had surgery and her return date is uncertain.
"She broke a bone in her foot - the exact spot, only the opposite foot - as what she did last year, so we're not sure how that's going to play out," Hoffmeyer said.
Mary Wehmeyer, a senior, sprained her ankle at the start of summer and has been sidelined since.
"She's been watching us practice until (Wednesday), which was her first time at all on the court," Hoffmeyer said. "I would anticipate her ending up (as a middle hitter), but she's got some people to beat out before she goes back there."
Those who are healthy include senior libero/defensive specialist Megan Bleidistel.
"She has really has made a game-changing improvement (in her play)," Hoffmeyer said. "She has stepped up in a very strong fashion for us, she has taken on a leadership role and is owning it. It's been fun to see her make that transition. She's always been a hard-working kid and she's taken things to the next level."
Also playing some libero will be junior Cameryn Campbell.
The outside hitters will be senior Cara Caby, junior Madisyn Stone and sophomore Baylee Rozier, while the middle hitters will be junior Tatum Gaines and sophomore Corrin Lepper.
The Lady Jays will run a 6-2 offense with juniors Bailey Diehl and Janice Steacy as the two setters.
"Most of them have played together a lot - the juniors have spent most of their club careers and school careers together," Hoffmeyer said. "The merging of our juniors and our seniors has happened very seamlessly. Our seniors are good leaders, but not necessarily the strongest personalities on our team, while our stronger personalities are in our junior class, so they've come together very, very well."