For the second consecutive season, Mineola Girls Varsity Volleyball Coach Diana Nick faces a daunting task - replacing 80 percent of her starting lineup. While little was expected of last year's team, late season heroics propelled the Lady Mustangs to a surprising playoff berth. The formula for 2006 seems eerily similar. After a rough non-conference schedule at the outset, positive results are being achieved.

A team dominated by upperclassmen (nine seniors and three juniors) makes the transition of rebuilding the rotation a whole lot easier. Veteran role players should be able to step in and fill the void of departing All-County and All-Conference players. To be more competitive, the team moved one conference level lower to better match the talent pool. New schools on the schedule include Farmingdale, Uniondale, Manhasset and Calhoun. If early indications are representative of the conference season, the first three foes have already been defeated.

Hitters will be critical to progress but senior setter Cassie Olivos will be the glue that holding the group together. As a veteran, Cassie holds the most important position on the court. Fellow senior Amanda Ward voluntarily moves from middle hitter to the outside. Amanda welcomed the transition and has made great strides already. Senior Co-Captain Magda Jachowicz is the picture of consistency from her spot on the right side. There may also be no better server. Junior Co-Captain Jamie Medlock is the spiritual leader. From her post as middle hitter, she passionately directs the offense and keeps the sextet focused at all times. Jamie, as was the case with Mustang siblings that predated her, is the strongest player on the floor.

Fortunately, no one game stands out more than any other on this year's schedule. The goal is to peak by playoff time as a mature unit. Communication between players is essential and building a support system is key. With three quarters of the team graduating once again, the future presents an ongoing challenge. Doubling as the middle school volleyball coach provides coach Nick with the ability to scout her prospects. Seeing the talent at an early age will nurture the technique and knowledge of the game that is necessary at the high school level. A Varsity coach at the novice level is also a special luxury not available at many schools. This is a unique design that will produce quality teams in the near future.

Nick has no doubt success is in the cards. In four years at the helm of either the boys or girls programs, she has been to the playoffs multiple times including an upset run to the Nassau County semifinals a few years ago. With the aid of junior varsity coach Suzanne Vitale, constant improvement in the technical aspects of the game will sure to blossom at just the right moment.