In some ways, the Grant volleyball team had to start this season from scratch. Longtime coach Brick Street was replaced by Tracy Klosterman, who knew that she had to inspire the players to work together.

One of Klosterman’s coaching tactics was teaching the girls that you never win a game by yourself, you win games as a team. “From the beginning, I knew it was important for me to connect with my team,” she said. “I wanted the girls to work together and they quickly took that on themselves.”

With seven seniors on the roster, led by Akiva Hillman and Luci Travis, Klosterman focused on forging strong relationships and communication between her players.

In the first match of the season against Madison, Grant jumped out early and won 3-0. Hillman feels the team won because the communication was working as players talked to each other on the court and gave encouragement.

As the season continued, the team struggled and lost the next two games to Thurston and Lincoln. Grant quickly recovered, wiping out Cleveland 3-1 and winning two of the next three matches.

Grant’s last home match culminated in a senior night that was emotional for Klosterman, her players and their families. The coach made a short speech about each player and everyone left teary eyed. “Even I was,” said Klosterman.

The team fought hard as the season went on. They won 10 matches and lost 11. When it came to their play-in match against Canby, the team was “hungry for a win,” Hillman said. They played with new enthusiasm and won 3-0, sending them into the playoffs with high hopes.

They faced a tough opponent in Roseburg and lost the match 3-0. It was an emotional end to the season but Klosterman recognized it as a “victory in other ways.”

Senior Janae Stanley said Klosterman “was tough on us and made us come together as one. Last year, we didn’t have that. This year we were a team no matter what happened in a game. We had each other’s backs.”