With a new head coach and a new offense, the Elizabeth Cardinal volleyball team has had a tough season so far. But through hard work, patience and dedication, the team is pulling together and enjoying success along the way.

Dave Danforth, head coach, admits it has been a difficult transition for the girls with a new coach leading them this season, but the players have adjusted well under the conditions. Throughout the learning process, Danforth has learned more about the girls as a team and individually. He said the chemistry is coming together at the right time.

“We had some tough games in the beginning, but it’s been worth it,” he said.

Along with a new coach, the girls are also learning a new offense. Danforth said traditionally teams use a 6-2 or 5-1 offense, but this year the Cardinals switched to a 6-0 offense, putting six setters on the court. He learned the offense from new assistant coach Lee Moe, who brought the strategy from his father-in-law’s college volleyball team. The offense has trained the girls to be quicker and more precise.

“Because we don’t have a lot of height this year, we have to rely on being quicker and more defensibly minded,” he said. “And this new offense has really helped us achieve that.”

The transition to a new offense did not come easy, but Danforth said now that it is later in the season he is seeing everything come into play. The girls feel more confident not only in themselves and each other but also in the offensive game.

One apparent thing from the very beginning the team has is the passion and love for the game. Danforth said the girls worked hard over the summer, which made a huge difference this season. The girls’ individual skills have improved because of their strong dedication to the game, Danforth said.

“The girls’ speed and vertical jumping ability is very good,” he said. “We have worked to be the best physically fit athletes we can be and our conditioning program this year had made that happen.”