Coming off wins versus Mesquite Poteet (18-16 overall, 3-5 in district) on Tuesday and West Mesquite (1-18, 0-8) last Friday, the volleyball team (30-9, 7-0) looks to complete a district sweep by implementing some offensive changes and transitions, head coach Jason Nicholson said.

“It’s really about our side of the net,” Nicholson said. “Keeping what we’re doing clean, making sure we’re taking care of the ball and serving people aggressive. If we do those things, we’ll give ourselves a good shot to win district.”

Junior Michelle Foster said it can be difficult to transition from playing less elite teams during the district season to playing very competitive teams in the postseason.

“When we play lower level teams, we keep our focus on making sure our side is very clean and well-played volleyball, so that we don’t play down to our opponents’ level and that we are using these games to make ourselves better players,” Foster said.

Nicholson said the win over Poteet (25-12, 25-14, 25-17) was an opportunity to get their heads in the game and prepare for the next round of district. The team shifts their focus to playing North Forney at home Friday night at 5:30 p.m.

“[It] will be a little bit of a weird day with no school, but we’re going to try to keep our focus that day, and try to make sure we’re ready to play,” Nicholson said.

In the midst of the season, the team has had a handful of college commitments, including junior Michelle Foster to Texas State.

“Michelle is obviously going to be a great addition to Texas State,” Nicholson said. “She offers great energy, she is a feisty little one, not scared of anything, so that’s a good piece to have at that position as a libero and defensive specialist. She is fearless, and I think that has sometimes led her to some of her injuries, because she plays with a kind of reckless abandon, which is a good thing, that’s hard to teach a kid to do.”

Foster helped turn her dream of playing D1 volleyball into a reality by taking matters into her own hands. She was reaching out to coaches, sending highlight videos, and making sure they came to see her play.

“When I first started talking to Texas State, I loved all of the coaching staff and everything that they had to offer me,” said Foster. “So when I eventually went on my visit I knew immediately it was the place that I could call my second home. I loved both the academic and athletic programs, the girls, coaches, and the environment. I knew it was the place I wanted to spend another four years of my life and I am very grateful.”