EDMONTON, Alta. – The NAIT Ooks women's volleyball team is set to kick off their 2019-2020 campaign this weekend in a home and home featuring the Concordia Thunder.
Last season the Ooks finished the season strong winning the four of their previous six games. A slow start to the season would see them finish with a 6-18 record, missing the playoffs.
"Last season was extremely difficult. When we reflected on the season, we quickly realized we weren't happy with any of it. We weren't satisfied with the results, with our work ethic, with the process," said head coach Benj Heinrichs.
After an undesirable result last year, head coach Benj Heinrichs was left reflecting on what had to be changed, "We spent the summer figuring out how we needed to change, how to make a culture shift, and then how to implement those changes."
Coming into this season, Benj has a plan laid out for the players that he hopes will lead to success in the upcoming season, "It began with the returning student-athletes having a "no b.s." attitude, It continues with the new players buying in," said Heinrichs. "We want purpose, discipline, and trust. We're willing to do whatever it takes to get better."
The team is comprised of seven returning student-athletes and seven new student-athletes. The entire team will be looked upon to buy-in, work hard, and contribute to success following a disappointing season.
"We've had everyone together for six weeks, and the improvement has been outstanding. We have a team that is only interested in learning, improving, and supporting each other," said Heinrichs. "They are locked, the process, and we will continue to build on that throughout the season."
On Friday night, the Ooks will make the short trip down 112 Ave. to visit the Concordia Thunder, where they will place the first match of their season. The will no doubt be looking to get off to a better start than last year.
"We play in a very tough conference, every weekend is a battle," said Heinrichs. "We are focused on returning to playoffs. To do so, we will need to make some significant improvements. We're going to stay committed and focused, the process and the team, and work hard to maximize our potential"