If the Hulbert volleyball team is anything, head coach Eva Hooper wants them to be tough.Coming into the season, the Lady Riders are ready to keep rolling with the punches, with a first-year head coach, some losses of senior players and eventual in-season injuries.Hooper thinks the Lady Riders are going to be fine on the court, but with the season looming, she wants to makes sure her team can take adversity and grow from it.I want our team to progress the most in our mental toughness, Hooper said. Weve gone through some changes due to injuries, losing key players from last year and even getting a new head coach. Getting used to big changes and a different type of play can be challenging. I just want the girls to trust in themselves and each other enough to push through anything.Building a strong mentality will play into the hands of the Lady Riders, who are expecting to have a high-powered offense this season. HHS returns Abbigal Cox, one of their leading hitters from last year, and reining Offensive Player of the Year to lead the offenses high-powered kill game.Our offense is going to be pretty exciting this year; were learning brand-new techniques and tempos, Hooper said. We just want to bring a whole new attitude to our swings.Early practices have been highlighted by working on a key piece of the game to help the offense score: the serving and receiving game. Getting the ball over the net and keeping tough serves in the air will help set up an offense that wont be short of hitters eyeing kills.Our focus during early practice has been our serve and receive game, Hooper said. We have to be aggressive on those to play our game.Complementing the offense is going to be a defense that tends to be a very strong unit.Our defense is always reliable, Hooper said. We brought in some new faces, so just establishing roles and chemistry has been fun. I have full confidence in our back line.In addition to Cox, the Lady Riders return Kandance Crawford and Mya Henson as upperclassmen leaders. Hooper commended her varsity squad and noted that Masters has been a key part of the Lady Riders roster throughout her high school career, despite dealing with injury.She has dealt with injury throughout her career, but she shows up and shows out for the team every time, Hooper said. That doesnt just mean doing her job on the court either. During the times shes on rest, she is as talkative as if she were in the drills with the rest of them. Just a truly passionate player; we wouldnt be the same team we are without her.Taking over after a tenure as assistant coach, Hooper is excited for the season to open. The Riders open the season Tuesday, Aug. 11 vs. the Sequoyah Lady Indians in non-district play.I expect us to play hard, no matter what is thrown at us, Hooper said. I expect us to hold our heads high throughout what is thrown at us. I expect us to hold our heads high through anything and to trust that we are all doing our part for the betterment of the team.