Interim volleyball head coach Lisa Westlake knows her volleyball team has been through a lot this year. That does not, however, mean the Eagles are letting that get in the way of progress.

“My job is to try to get them to realize that if they work hard and things keep coming together, it’s not impossible for us to win Thursday anymore than it is Friday,” Westlake said.

Westlake admitted that the team has had to overcome adversity early in the year. She believes there is more to sports than simple competition.

“There have been quite a few things that just keep hitting the team,” Westlake said. “I think they’re learning life lessons. They’re learning to keep putting one foot in front of the other.”

One of the things the team has had to overcome is the loss of junior setter Lindsay Niemeier. Niemeier is sitting out the season after suffering a torn ACL in the season-opener. Coach Westlake was forced to insert junior Ashley Wright into the role. Wright, who had been an outside hitter, had to make the transition to setter despite not having any prior setting experience. So far, Westlake has been impressed with the way Wright has handled the switch.

“She’s learning to set and she’s coming along fine. She’s a big six foot outside hitter,” Westlake said. “She has great hands and she’s a hard worker. We knew she’d do whatever it takes for the team.”