Attitude could be key for Hawks’ hitters

The expectations for Shawano Community High School’s varsity volleyball team under head coach Jessica Cumberland are pretty simple: strong, scrappy and smart. The Hawks return five starters from a team that went 19-10 overall and 2-5 in the Bay Conference last season before losing to Notre Dame in a WIAA regional. With the returning talent, SCHS hopes to place among the top three in the conference with Seymour and new conference member Xavier. The new conference alignment adds a different dimension to the competition, which returnee Erika Dunnam says adds extra motivation in proving the Hawks can play with anyone. Continuity between last year and this season will help as well. “We have a team that’s a unit that has been working together for a while now,” Cumberland said. “I think that helps a lot.” Playing together for a few years should help with the communication and creating a positive attitude surrounding the team. “We need to have the attitude that the other teams don’t have, like the positivity and encouragement for each other that other teams do not have that will make us go harder,” senior setter Annelies Young said. The Hawks won the season-opening Crivitz Invitational on Tuesday, losing just one game in the four matches. The early success could help define the team and build confidence going into conference play. “We just know we have to step it up and work harder because there are teams that are going to be better than us (in the Bay),” Lexi Doberstein said. “We just have to step it up and work hard and trust ourselves.” Right now, Cumberland is focused on finding the right rotations with her players. “It’s finding the top strengths, the top people to put in the right positions, getting reacquainted with each other and upping our communication,” Cumberland said. Cumberland, who became the interim coach during last season, is still working on implementing her system with the Hawks. She’s impressed with the skill of her team at this point in the season. “Our front row is strong, and our back row can do some work as well,” Cumberland said. “We are strong all around.”