With volleyball season kicking into gear, players are adjusting to their new team and preparing for the upcoming season. Highlighted by a new coaching staff and a new group of players, the Wolfpack has a whole new face and is ready to continue to bring home wins.   Coach Bryan Bunn has put together a team full of enthusiastic players, willing and ready to put in the effort needed to turn the program around.   “The program has not been very successful over the past 10 to 12 years, so by bringing in all these new people we bring in a new culture and a new energy, and enthusiasm,” Bunn said. “They are all very eager to learn so we can teach the things that we want done. It takes a while for them to learn that but they are very open to it and are all ready to win. They are ready to put forth the effort that is takes.” Bunn said he expects his players to perform well as both individuals and teammates. “They are very competitive and we have been mixing up the teams a lot so they are having to work with different teams a lot but they are pretty cohesive,” Bunn said. “We talk a lot about how you treat your teammates, how important it is to be a good person, a good teammate and a good player. So they are really going out of their way to make sure that they are doing the right things on and off the court.”  As the new players continue to feel their way around and adjust, senior leaders help to guide them by setting good examples. Senior Becah Fogle said senior setter Alex Smith and junior libero Kelly Wood stick out in her mind as examples of team leaders returning from last year’s squad.  “They are really good with communication,” Fogle said. “They know how to talk to the players and help them with whatever they need help with. They are really good at not talking down to anyone. They always encourage and give really good tips. They don’t just focus on themselves; they focus on what the team is doing as a whole.” To help the new girls with the transition, returning players have little sisters. Their job as returning players is to help the new girls adjust to the team and college life. For Smith, whose little sisters are freshman Carson Mata and junior transfer Luciana Shafer, she has tried to set a good example for all of the other girls on the team.  As captain she takes it upon herself to help encourage the girls, both on and off the court.  “I have realized that as a captain, the bottom line is that you have to point out what is right from wrong,” Smith said. “Staying consistent with that makes it easier [to learn]. And I just always try to ask them about how they are doing, how volleyball is going for them, and if everything is ok. Just trying to get to know them really helps.” Having strong team bonds is important to any team’s success. A good bond between teammates creates good chemistry and trust on the court. With daily practices during the preseason the girls were together for most of the day, every day, so they were able to begin to create these bonds. With the foundation laid out, the girls continue to strengthen these bonds not just during practice but by hanging out off the court as well.