Posted 08/05/16, 2:21 PM CST

FLOWER MOUND (AM News Net)  –  Local high school volleyball teams are getting right to work this season and are playing scrimmages right after tryouts. Although in a new district this year, Marcus high school volleyball will still need to work before district play begins. The Lady Marauders are currently transitioning to a team which about half of is made up of new players, along with a new head coach: Danielle Barker.

Coach Barker was originally an assistant coach across town at Flower Mound High School, but joined Marcus this year to replace the position after the old coach left.

“I just applied,” Coach Barker said of her new position. “I’ve never been through a head coaching interview experience, so I really did it for the experience.”

Coach Barker, who played volleyball at Tarleton State University and won three state championships in high school, explained that her love for volleyball helped her in the selection process.

“I think they saw my love for the game and how passionate I was and my background with volleyball,” she said. “I played in college, [and] was very successful in high school.”

Marcus is looking to bring a championship mindset to their volleyball team according to Barker, and she thinks the tryouts held just this week have worked well as indicators for how the team will perform.

“I think [the players] are all pretty excited,” she said. “You know, it’s kind of a big shock when your entire coaching staff but one leaves. Some people will take it pretty hard but I think they’re excited and very willing to learn my way of how I do things and not stubborn in how they were.”

Out of 17 girls, only eight are returning from last year. Barker thinks the team will perform just fine however when the season starts because the seniors, ten in all, can provide leadership.

“I think there are just a couple fine things to tune up, but I think it’s going to be the mindset we work on the most because I think we have the talent,” she said.

Heading into the new 6-5A, Coach Barker is confident her team can hold their own against the other teams who are starting taller players, something Marcus can do as well.

“The best ball control team is going to win I think in our district because we are all good offensively,” she said.

The full schedule for Marcus Volleyball’s coming season can be found here.

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