Youth will be served.
That's just fine with Bryan volleyball coach Caroline Simpson. It's how her youthful team responds to the hitting and blocking that may tell the story of their 2010 season, but she likes its chances.
"We finished off last season with five freshmen and at one point actually played with five freshmen and one senior on the court," Simpson said. "The future looks really good, but with the new school [Rudder] opening, it finally caught up with us. It's part of growing pains, but it's a good thing that a lot of freshmen are coming in this year."
Sierra Harrison, who did not play on the varsity team last year, will be the only senior on Bryan's 2010 squad, which begins workouts Monday. The Lady Vikings will be led by sophomores whose primary sports are not volleyball.
"This group coming in will be a good group and we were excited after last year," Simpson said. "It was a good group, but just small. We have dynamic kids and talented athletes and we have a lot of kids that play multiple sports right now."
Reagan Boenker had a successful season in 2009 as an outside hitter opposite Tiffany Regmund, who is now at Rutgers. Boenker, who had a breakout freshman year for the Lady Vikings' softball team, has a shoulder injury to begin the season.
"She had a knee injury last year and we want her to take some time to rest," Simpson said. "We won't have her at full capacity but she can do a lot of things, and she's so good defensively. She one of those talented players and athletes."
Simpson appreciates the multi-sport athletes.
"Back in the day, kids did that," Simpson said. "It used to be at Bryan High that you lettered in two or three sports. Now, a three-sport letterman is unheard of."
Simpson previously coached in Class 3A, where multi-sport competition was much more prevalent.
"It's good to give the body a rest from what you normally do and get a break from that sport, " Simpson said. "I coached for 13 years in Caldwell so it's not unusual for me. I didn't panic because I was used to it in Caldwell."
Brittany Little joined the Lady Vikings volleyball team midway though her freshman season.
"Soccer is her primary sport, but she's unbelievable," Simpson said. "She's a lot like Reagan in that things come so naturally to her. She only plays volleyball during the season. That she can do things so successfully is just phenomenal. She does things fundamentally correct without getting all the reps that others do."
Brittney Jones, who played softball, also returns. Abby Cullen, who moved to the varsity after an injury to then-senior setter Kaylee Piatt, also returns. Cullen also runs track.
Alyssa Micheletti, who also competes in soccer, moved to the varsity volleyball squad suddenly.
"We were playing [Copperas] Cove and had won the first two games," Simpson recalled. "Kaylee got hurt in game three and we had to find Alyssa a jersey and get her in there."
Simpson said her younger players don't play as if they are under pressure, and they play well together.
"With Brittney Jones, I remember asking her how she felt about playing on the varsity and she said, 'No problem,'" Simpson said. "She never acted like a freshman. They are good kids with good personalities and they all get along."'
Bryan had only 15 freshmen out for volleyball last year, although many performed well. Numbers will be a key to building a complete program, but Simpson likes the level of freshman players who will report Monday.
"We had several who would have played on the varsity last year, even with a down year for numbers," Simpson said. "We're not sure which direction we'll go, but we could possibly have freshmen on the varsity again.
There are always struggles with young teams, but Simpson says they simply have to be overcome as they were last year.
"We had struggles, yes, but still made the playoffs and I anticipate that happening again," Simpson said. "We'll definitely be contenders. We expect that. We've been to the playoffs six of the last seven years that I've been here."
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NOTES -- Monday's first practice begins at 8:30 a.m. All players interested in playing must have a physical on file at the athletic training room before participation will be allowed. For more information, visit the Vikings' website at http://fc.bryanisd.org/athletics.