With a fresh roster and renewed energy, the Burroughs High School girls’ volleyball team is ready to take on the Mojave River League this fall. After graduating eight seniors last year, many of them starters, the Lady Burros enter the season younger but full of potential.
Coach Stephanie Phillips said her goals for the season extend beyond just the scoreboard.
“My goal for this season is to be as competitive as possible in our League with the hopes of making it into the CIF playoffs again,” Phillips explained. “I also hope that the girls have fun competing and playing as a team, grow closer as a team, grow as an athlete, and make lasting memories together.”
The Lady Burros have been preparing since summer, putting in hours of practice before the first serve of the season. Phillips acknowledged that with a younger squad, it will take time to develop chemistry, but she believes the team has the tools to compete.
“Even though we lost a lot of seniors last year, we do have the potential to go far again this year,” she said. “We have some hard hitters, big blocks, and scrappy defense. We have been practicing for most of the summer so it is nice to finally get into playing games and putting it all together on the court! We hope to see everyone at our upcoming home games!”
Senior captain Lillah O’Grady echoed her coach’s optimism, emphasizing both growth and teamwork as keys to success.
“Going into this season I’m super excited and can’t wait to see how we grow together as a team and as players,” O’Grady said. “We have some work to put in, but I think we can have a great season and a lot of fun.”
For O’Grady, the team’s chemistry may be their biggest advantage.
“I think our biggest strength this season is our friendship. We all get along and have a great time on and off the court. When your team is like family, it makes everything better on and off the court,” she said.
As captain, O’Grady hopes to lead with positivity.
“It’s hard to get out of your head sometimes, especially in the game in front of everyone, but when you have someone there to motivate and uplift you, it helps a lot,” she explained. “Reminding everyone that they don’t need to be perfect and mistakes are okay goes a long way.”
The Lady Burros may be young, but with strong leadership, determination, and an unshakable bond, they are aiming for another competitive season in the Mojave River League and possibly a return to the CIF playoffs.
