The Lady Warriors volleyball team is hopeful for a strong season in 2018.

Volleyball officially gets under way for the Lady Warriors Tuesday at home against Deep Creek High School. This year will be different for Nansemond River High School as they will be with their third coach in the last three seasons. Coach Ed Colon will be at the helm this season and is excited for what’s to come.

“I am very optimistic about the talent they bring to the court,” Colon said. “We are senior-heavy this year, and I’m excited and optimistic about what we have as a team. We want to build this program and be competitive.”

Colon brings a lot of experience to the Lady Warriors. He played volleyball at the Division I level and also spent some time coaching on the Division II level. Along with his experience, Colon has been building chemistry with his team.

“Everyone is excited about what we have this season,” he said. “I look forward to going to practice every day. We do things in practice that help us with team-building and also helps them with being better volleyball players and students.”

The Lady Warriors want to focus on what they can do on the court. Colon wants his team to have fun while also maintaining a competitive edge. With the first game coming up Tuesday, Nansemond River is looking to be focused.

“We want to be aggressive out there,” he said. “We don’t want to hold back. We want to go out there and execute the basic skills and focus on doing our jobs and driving the momentum. If we do the small things, they are going to be visible on the court, because I know what they can do.”

Zaria Irons, Taylor Paquette, Dee Dee Moore and Alexa Lyons are some returners the Lady Warriors will look to for contributions. Bria Washington will also be relied upon to step in and contribute. There are also some younger players who will be expected to contribute. Paquette feels like Colon’s direction will lead to a successful season.

“I definitely see a difference in our team from last year thanks to Coach Colon,” Paquette said. “We have played with a lot more communication than before, which has made it easier to play as a unit.”

Nansemond River will face Deep Creek at home at 6 p.m. Tuesday.