The Old Rochester Regional High School girls volleyball team is hoping to continue a new trend this season – making the playoffs.

“Last year that group made the playoffs, it was the first time in a decade,” head coach Matt Bisso said. “And they won their first game.”

That group, seniors who were sophomores during one of Bisso’s first seasons as varsity head coach, was vital to the rejuvenation of the program.

“We wanted to instill what the direction of the program would be,” he said.

In order to redirect the program, Bisso made a few personnel changes. He hired Jimmy Oliveira to assist him and to coach the junior varsity team. He also got ORR volleyball alum and junior high physical education teacher Maggie Rossi to talk to junior high students about trying volleyball.

“The right personnel is how change happens,” Bisso said.

He stresses accountability to his team, and says he sets high expectations, which pushes the girls toward attainable goals.

After reaching the playoffs last season, Bisso is faced with a new challenge – a young team.

“Last year we lost eleven seniors, probably about seven of which were starters,” he said. “We have a whole new core this year.”

Junior Ella Varcellone said that despite the new team, if they rely on hard work and teamwork, the playoffs will be a reality again.

“This year there’s a lot of talent,” she said. “If we work together we will make the playoffs.”

The main challenge for a team with a new core is finding chemistry among new teammates.

“Once we get in a real game situation it’ll help a lot,” Varcellone said.

And until then, the team has been making sure to put in the work to build the friendship needed to be successful.

“We do pasta dinners and sleepovers and we have a group chat,” senior Emma Collings said.

With their dedication to the team, Bisso knows that despite many young players, the Lady Bulldogs have what it takes to be successful in the South Coast Conference.

“This year the team has a lot of experience from off-season camps and out-of-season play,” he said.

While playing during the team’s off-season is not mandatory, Bisso said at the end of the season he does offer up routes to play, such as indoor programs like Coastal Volleyball and Max Performance Volleyball.

“It’s a good way to be competitive in the off-season,” Bisso said. “That has been a key to doing well in the season.”

As the team begins its season, Bisso isn’t leaving the playoffs to chance.

“I’m expecting a competitive conference this season,” he said. “It’s never been easy for ORR. There’s not a team you can count on beating. All the teams are tough to beat. But I can see us contending for the SCC Championship.”