LYNN — In back-to-back seasons, the Lynn Tech girls volleyball team just barely missed the state tournament. That said, these Tigers don’t pout – they pounce.
“We’re super excited about volleyball,” fifth-year Coach Kaitlyn Wechsler said. “We have been putting in a lot of work. I’m excited and I know they’re excited, too.”
The ultimate goal for several teams is the state tournament – Tech included.
“Definitely,” Wechsler said. “I know that we definitely want that, and we’re more than capable of achieving that goal for sure.”
Step one of the journey began with summer league.
“We actually just played in our first summer league this year for volleyball,” Wechsler said. “We had never done that before.”
Despite it not being “technically a championship,” Tech won its match Tuesday night in a showdown between the top two teams.
“One thing they told me this summer is that they really have so much fun playing with each other,” Wechsler said. “They said they’re so used to playing with each other that they know where they’re going to be at all times, which is something that only comes from playing together.”
They’ll look to ride that momentum into the season after a 7-13 campaign last fall.
“We’re a pretty full returning roster,” Wechsler said. “I think we have five seniors coming back on the roster, and then a lot of sophomores.”
When asked which players she expects big things from, Wechsler couldn’t narrow it down to just a few.
“Gosh, there are so many of them,” Wechsler said. “Which is exciting. We have the leadership, but we also have the future.”
Returning players include:
Lesnee Izaguirre
Lia Morales
Arelys Ruiz
Ana Godoy
Ava Bishop
Maria Groscos
Kayla Rivera
Zahara Belizaire
Isabella Walcott
Katie Tartarini
Ariana Camilo
“They all played pretty big roles last year, too,” Wechsler said.
A lot of teams are built around, well, one superstar. Wechsler said Tech isn’t that kind of team, and that any given player could shine any given night.
“If one person may be off, there’s going to be someone to step in, which is nice,” Wechsler said. “I could probably give you everyone, and at some point in the year, they’re going to be our top player because we’re just very balanced… We all just know our roles.”
As for her coaching philosophy, Wechsler – a former high school and college athlete – wants her players to connect volleyball to everyday life lessons.
Some of those include being on time, staying committed, prioritizing school work, volleyball, and working with people who aren’t always your best friends.
“I think those are some of my coaching philosophies,” Wechsler said. “I’m definitely hard on them and they know I have my expectations.”
Oh, one more thing.
“And then having fun, also,” Wechsler said. “Yes, we need to be hard and we learn all these things, but if you’re not having fun, then you’re not going to want to do it.”
Speaking of fun, and when asked which programs she’s most excited to play against, Wechsler pointed to KIPP, St. Mary’s, and Saugus.
“Those are probably the highlights I can think of,” Wechsler said. “But, you know, all of them. All of them are important.”
