Norway, MI — NORWAY — The Norway varsity volleyball team had a rough go of it last season. This season, however, things appear to be looking up. The Knights opened the season with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-21) win over North Central on Thursday at Norway High School. “I’m very happy about how it played out,” Norway head coach Erika Racine said. “This year, we started switching players around in positions they haven’t played before. … Very happy with how they played. We’ve got a good group of girls, and I’m excited to see how they grow.” After being one of the younger varsity teams last season, Racine believes the Knights are primed for a strong year. “They’re improving,” Racine said. “Every year, they get better. Every year, they learn something new, hopefully multiple things. And they’re just at that level now where they’re progressing and willing to try new things. They’re a little bit older. For the last few years, we’ve had a very young varsity team. Norway junior setter Anna deBidart (17) sets the ball against North Central on Thursday at Norway High School. (Terry Raiche photo) “We’re finally to that point, I feel like they’re starting to step outside of their comfort zone and push themselves.” Although age has contributed to Norway’s growth, Racine also credits the team’s trust in each other with helping facilitate the turnaround. “A lot of team building, I really do think that’s important,” Racine said. “We started off really strong on that this year. The girls get together quite a bit, and they’re building that trust.” Despite starting slow in their opener, Jets’ head coach Rick Mick was pleased to see his team fight against adversity. “A little disappointed how we started, but I expected us to start a little bit rough,” Mick said. “But I think every game, we fought back. In the third game, we were kind of right in there. We ended up playing some subs late in the game, and I don’t think it changed the outcome. “But I was excited to get them in and see what they can do early in the season.” Mick identified what areas his squad needed to improve by playing multiple rotations. “I felt like our back row communication was lacking a little bit,” he said. “We have a brand new setter, and her communication with the people in the front row needs to improve. We’ll definitely work on those two things and I think if we clean those up, a lot of those mistakes we won’t make again.” From the opening serve, the first set was all Norway. It started off with a 3-0 run, featuring an ace from senior Abby Richter. The Knights kept their foot on the gas and built a nine-point lead at the midway mark, 15-6. While the cards were stacked against them, the Jets battled back late in the set but ultimately lost, 25-19. Although North Central was struggling in the opening two sets, one player in red and black was on a tear. … Senior Haylee Gatien. She led the Jets with six blocks. “She is, without question, our best player,” Mick said. “It’s someone I think will be in the Player of the Year conversation for the conference. She’s an outstanding player. It’s her senior year, and I expect her to do big things. She’s a huge part of our team. I think we’ll see her play somewhere after high school.” Norway rolled to a 25-18 victory in set two and looked to be headed for an easy sweep. However, the Jets weren’t going down without a fight. “Just to stay focused,” Mick said. “Stay focused and trust yourselves. They know they can play, and I know they can play. And I’m just telling them to trust themselves. Trust their fundamentals and go out there and play the way they know they can. It kept them kind of in the game and kept them going. The score being close kept everyone fired up. … We definitely saw some things that were important to us.” North Central stayed locked in and kept things close in the third set. But, after trailing 17-14, Norway junior Anna deBidart notched back-to-back aces to put the home team back ahead. The Knights wouldn’t surrender the lead again as they locked up a 25-21 win. By Sean Chase