JHS volleyball focused on rebuilding

The Johnston girls volleyball team is still searching for its first win of the season as it entered the week at 0-9 overall.
The Panthers graduated a large senior core last year and have been rebuilding their lineup from top to bottom. Growing pains were expected this fall on paper, so coach Greta Lalli has emphasized improving each day over focusing solely on the final score.
“This is a rebuilding year, we lost a lot of seniors. Our goal is making sure the kids are getting better as the season goes on. We’re not putting pressure on them to win, we just want them to be better than they were in the previous game,” Lalli said.
The team has been led by a trio of experienced standouts in juniors Noelle and Nicole Patenaude and senior Gisselly Nunez.
“(Noelle and Nicole) have been playing with me since they were freshmen. They are very hard workers. Gisselly is also very good and has been with me since rec and followed me all the way until her senior year, she’s pretty consistent,” Lalli said.
With six more matches remaining this season, Lalli hopes that the team continues to look toward the future while also enjoying the final games of the fall.
“We’re looking for consistency. Keeping a positive attitude and playing consistently,” said Lalli. “I want them to gel with each other and work well together throughout the entire game. I just want them to be better each day, the focus isn’t on the win, it’s about having a good experience.”