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This week on The Morning Blitz, we had the pleasure of catching up with Shelby Mosier, head coach of the Colby Eagles Volleyball team. As the season winds down, Coach Mosier shared insights into her team’s journey, their remarkable accomplishments, and the upcoming post-season challenges.
Coach Mosier expressed how quickly the season flew by. With practice starting after school was already in session, this year felt even faster than usual. “It went by really fast… It flew by so fast to think that we’re talking about post-season today is weird,” she remarked, reflecting on how the compact seven-week schedule challenges her team to stay consistent across 36 games.
When asked how she’d react if someone told her the team would finish 31-5, she wasn’t too surprised. She knew her team had the potential. “I’ve always said, whatever they put their mind to, they can accomplish,” she said. It was clear she had faith in her team from the start.
Building Trust and Commitment
One of the major themes Coach Mosier emphasized was the importance of roles and commitment during the post-season. “It takes everybody. And if we don’t have everybody in it, we’re not gonna be able to be successful,” she stated. This philosophy underscores her team's cohesion and the players’ selflessness. According to Mosier, the athletes have accepted their roles and understand that every contribution matters, from star players to those supporting the team in less visible ways.
Celebrating Individual Milestones
Mosier expressed pride in her players achieving remarkable individual goals this season, including Elizabeth Barton's milestone of 1,000 digs, Ali Flanagan's assists, and Bryn Stanley surpassing 1,000 kills. “To have three of those accomplishments in one year is outstanding,” she said. She highlighted how these achievements reflect years of hard work from the girls, who have been with the varsity team since their sophomore year.
Strength in Teamwork
For Coach Mosier, the most rewarding aspect of this season has been watching the team grow together. She noted a transformation in the team’s chemistry and communication. “They rarely take time to be selfish, and I think that’s what makes them so special,” she added. Mosier’s pride in their unity and ability to celebrate each other’s successes was evident throughout our conversation.
Preparing for the Post-Season
As the team approaches the post-season, Coach Mosier admitted that the new format has been a bit of a challenge to decipher. “It took me a really long time to figure it out,” she joked, echoing the thoughts of many other coaches. However, she’s excited for the opportunity to host the first round of the playoffs and looks forward to the chance to play multiple games with less pressure.
Regarding her team's specific post-season pod, which includes Holcomb, Russell, and Southwestern Heights, Coach Mosier feels confident, having already faced two of the three teams this season. “It is nice that we don’t have to do a lot of research,” she said, focusing on improving her team’s performance rather than preparing for the unknown.
Offensive Endurance: The Key to Post-Season Success
Looking ahead to Monday’s matches, Coach Mosier pointed out one area for improvement: offensive endurance. While her defense and serve receive are strong, she wants her team to stay mentally tough and persistent when points don’t come quickly. “We have to work on making sure that we are in the mindset to score all the time, even if it doesn’t happen right away,” she explained.
Tough Competition in the GWAC
Before wrapping up, Coach Mosier also reflected on the strength of the GWAC this season. She praised the competitive nature of teams like Cimarron, Holcomb, and Scott City, as well as other smaller schools in the region that have shown impressive performances. “The GWAC specifically is a really tough and competitive league,” she said, noting how it's nice to see their league competing at such a high level in the post-season.
Closing Thoughts
As Coach Mosier and the Colby Eagles head into the post-season, it’s clear that their success has been built on a foundation of trust, commitment, and teamwork. With strong individual performances and an unselfish group mentality, the team is poised for an exciting playoff run.
We wish Coach Mosier and the Colby Eagles the best of luck in their upcoming post-season matches! Stay tuned to The Morning Blitz for more updates.
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