The Southwest volleyball team has its best offense in the last three years, according to Coach Steve Voyak, and the Lady Trojans are looking to show it this season.

Southwest returns eight players with varsity experience, and three seniors are taking the lead in unique ways at times — like with a book club.

Voyak said the overall goals this season are to improve mental toughness, which starts with serving and receiving.

“It we do that well, we will give ourselves a real chance at success in every match,” he said.

Returners include seniors Brooklynn Slye, Lyric Bernard and Juliauna Sierra; juniors Laura Henry, Kaleigh Tull, Riley Flippo and Montana Skelton; and Sophomore Marissa Freeman.

Slye, Bernard and Sierra have been in the Lady Trojans program for six years, and that experience is something Voyak hopes they will use.

“It’s time for them to step up and lead the team, especially when things are difficult,” he said. “The team is reading the motivational novel ‘Chop Wood, Carry Water’ by Joshua Medcalf, and we even did an abbreviated book club at practice complete with snacks.

“Slye leads the pre-training stretches and keeps the mood of the team positive. Bernard and Sierra both have different roles now but have taken extra time to help the freshmen get acclimated to the team.”

Voyak said he’s not sure if winning can be taught, but successful people tend to share characteristics, which is why the book is so important to the team.

“The girls have really bought in by writing reflections and discussing the characters in the story,” he said. “Our goal in the program is smart, strong, confident young women in volleyball and in school, and ultimately in life. The book addresses this in a unique way.”

On the floor last season, Slye finished with 64 kills, 69 receptions, and 37 digs.

“She was one of the most consistent players over the summer and it showed in her attacking and overall floor game,” Voyak said. “Brnard has been moved to libero to take advantage of her athleticism on the defensive end. She was second on the team in receptions with 329 and digs with 277. She just needs to cut down on unforced errors. Sierra finished the season strong and has been moved outside to see if we can get more kills there. She was our best receiver of serve in the summer. She had 117 receptions last season to go with 122 digs. She has a chance to be a real difference-maker as a server after getting 16 aces a year ago.”

Voyak said Henry is one of the top setters in the area, led the team in assists with 385 and was named to the SWCL All-Conference team. She was also a stellar server at 98.5 percent with 11 aces and only 6 errors last season.

“She needs to work on her chemistry with some new hit- ters to make us a better offensive team,” Voyak said. “Tull has made improvements each season in the middle and ended last year with 70 kills and 20 blocks. She needs to cut down on unforced errors. Her serve has really improved and could land her an additional role there. Flippo was a standout on the JV last season but also had some impressive stretches on the varsity. Her back row defense has improved dramatically and her serve is better so she can improve on her 12 aces from last season. Decreasing unforced errors and consistency are two goals for her.”

Skelton, Voyak said, was a standout on the JV but has earned a role as a right side hitter this season.

“She puts up a good block on the other team’s strong side but also must improve her consistency in hitting and her overall floor game,” he said. “Freeman loves the game, is a tireless worker and has made a significant jump from last season. She is the team’s top hitter and has developed a strong serve but her consistency sometimes gets in the way of her success. If she can cut down on errors, she could be one of the better players in the area.”

A couple newcomers are joining the team, including a senior foreign exchange student from Germany.

“Freshman Olivia Hnem is smart, quick and athletic and will play some back row in a reserve role,” Voyak said. “She is a strong worker who understands the game better after each training session. Her serve reception and defense were solid all summer. She needs to gain confidence and become more consistent to play more on the varsity. Sophie Schweer, from Germany, is still learning the game and will play on the junior varsity.”

Voyak said through preseason, it has become clear the Lady Trojans’ offense has improved.

“This is our best offensive team in three years, but we’ll have to prove it in actual matches,” he said. “We have a strong and smart setter in Henry. We held our own in the summer with 8 wins and 8 ties in 24 matches, but those games didn’t count. We need more kills and fewer errors, it’s as simple as that.

“Our serving has also improved. We will challenge opponents with aim and speed, but can we be consistent and avoid errors? Our attitude and effort have been spectacular in pre-season camp, but will that translate to wins?”

Still needing work as the season began Tuesday were three qualities — ball control, serve reception and mental toughness.

“We made some breakthroughs in the summer, but we still lack consistency,” Voyak said. “If we learn to control the ball better, the wins will come. The girls understand this and have been working hard in the pre-season to get better. Coach Henry has also revamped the defense so there is less initial movement, and it showed positive results in the summer games.”

Southwest’s season began on Tuesday with a jamboree in Purdy. The squad will play four tournaments this year: Southwest Volleyfest, Verona, Galena and McDonald County.

“All are highly competitive,” Voyak said. “We also play Monett, Pierce City and Gentry (Ark.) in non-conference games. Galena and Spokane should be the top teams in our SWCL Conference. We start the season with a 15-team tourney in Verona and end against Class 4 McDonald County, so our players know to be prepared from the first whistle.”

This is the 40th Annual Volleyfest, with Voyak having overseen 21.

“Anything with four decades of tradition has to be significant,” he said. “The event has a storied past from starting in the Pit (the current middle school facility) with six teams in 1983 to the large competition it has become today.”

Southwest will play in pool play of the Verona tournament on Saturday in Purdy, facing Lockwood, McAuley, Miller and Purdy.