photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State junior Annika Lintecum jumps to spike the ball during Free State's 3-0 win over Lawrence at LHS on Thursday, October 3, 2024.

With years of experience together, the Free State volleyball team is fielding a connected group this season that the Firebirds believe can be among the best in the state.

The Firebirds have built chemistry and trust in each other from their time spent together both on and off the court. The bond they share gives the group an advantage in a sport where communication and chemistry is a staple of great teams.

“That will be really great for us, we already have built a lot of chemistry,” senior Ava Corbin said. “We’ve played club together since we were 12, so I think a lot of us will be working well together, having a good connection through the season.”

A strong teamwide rapport has allowed players from all ages to step up and compete in practices. Corbin said the depth of the team and the strong chemistry have made early practices highly competitive, with everyone fighting for their spot. Coach Jayme Savage said that competitive atmosphere starts with the upperclassmen and has trickled down to younger players.

“This is a group where that chemistry is shining through already,” coach Jayme Savage said. “We have some new pieces that are already buying in and are immersing themselves in the team-centered mindset already. So with that in mind, we’re already building trust and looking pretty good right out the gate.

“We talk a lot about raising the standard, and every day they step on the floor, they’re doing those things with a variety of actions and words.”

While the Firebirds are focused on their goals of being a great team, everyone wants to enjoy their time in practice and games. Junior Tessa Nover-Estes said the Firebirds have a fun environment to compete in, which makes being a part of the team better.

A contributing factor to that is the level of experience most of the girls have with each other from club volleyball seasons to previous years together at Free State. On and off the court, the Firebirds have grown up together.

“Having the connection, that trust in each other, you can tell people what you need and what they need without taking it personal or getting frustrated on the court,” Nover-Estes said. “It’s early, but I think we’re going to do some great things this year. We’re all really excited, and we’re happy to spend time with each other.”

Much of the depth comes in the team’s defense. In early practices and a preseason jamboree, the team’s versatility stuck out to Savage. This season, she expects to be able to move people around and to utilize different skills depending on the situation. To succeed in that, Savage said the team is focused on practicing with intention and understanding roles.

“A lot of it is just to slow down and focus on what our roles are, what our individual and team goals are and to mesh those together,” Savage said. “A lot of it is really working on intentional reps, really focusing on going from mentally how are we going to bounce back when things are on the line.”

While the team’s chemistry has a strong foundation with its experience, the team still is going through some of the usual early-season miscommunication. Junior Anniston Clark said the team had some moments where everyone wasn’t on the same page during their preseason jamboree, but that she’s not worried about that being an issue in the long run.

“Even though we are all close friends, it still takes time on the court,” Clark said. “The further along in the season we get, the more efficient we will be (in communication).”

Savage said the Firebirds have embraced being team-centered this year, and that the relationships throughout the team have allowed older and younger players to step up and thrive. That’s given her confidence in how the Firebirds can look this season, with a goal of getting back to the state tournament.

“We’re right there (at the top of the state),” Savage said. “When we’re firing on all cylinders, we’re going to be a hard team to beat. In my opinion, we’re in that top 10, and they’re going to figure that out real quick.”