Lions embracing the process to finish season strong
One thing comes to mind when football fans in the southeastern United States hear the term “the process.”
That would be the University of Alabama’s head football coach Nick Saban.
Whether Alabama suffered a close loss – which does not happen often – or put the finishing touches on a huge win – which does happen often – Saban never stops coaching. In fact, he is often most irritated with his team after a big win.
For Saban, the results of specific games do not predicate how he coaches his team. The same can be said for first-year Briarwood Christian School head volleyball coach Jeff Robertson.
Robertson is not Saban, obviously, but each coaches his program with that same mindset.
“As a team, we’ve set some goals and established some things that we want to achieve,” Robertson said. “My ultimate goal is that this team could reach its fullest potential, whatever that is.”
The Lions moved back down to Class 5A after spending two seasons at the 6A level, and went 2-1 against Area 8 competition. Other than that, though, Briarwood has not played many other 5A programs this season.
“Our competition has really helped us,” senior Natalie Crumpler said, “and it’ll help in the area tournament for sure.”
Partly in due to that stiff competition, Briarwood went on an 11-match losing streak late in the season, but did not display the normal attitudes of a team in that situation. That’s because there’s a larger goal than the individual match results.
“The process for us has been just every game, are we improving? As a team and individually. It really has encouraged us a ton this year. When we lose a game, it is a process to getting better and to getting to the ultimate goal of getting to the Elite Eight,” said Alexandra O’Brien, also a senior.
The start of the season set forth an adjustment process of seeing players in different positions than normal. Crumpler played right side last year. Anna Donohue was a setter, and is the team’s libero this fall. Carlie Foust has moved to the right side this year. Kolbi Reed has played just about everywhere.
“I think it’s been pretty easy for us,” O’Brien said. “Everybody adapts really well. This season, especially with us playing so many different positions, it really didn’t take long for us to get used to it.”
Crumpler emphasized the need for top-notch communication while on the court, which has helped the Lions’ adjustment process to several new positions, while helping them to perform to their best.
“Communication is literally the key factor,” she said. “You can have the most talented girls, all six of them top in the state, but if they don’t communicate, they will lose.”
Briarwood will begin its postseason road Tuesday at 5 p.m. against Shelby County in the Class 5A, Area 8 tournament, hosted at Moody High School. A win in that match will give the Lions a berth in the super regional round, to be played later in the week.
“It is really important to us that we end really well and strong,” O’Brien said.