<div>BOZEMAN, State — Gallatin will begin its chase for a third straight Class AA volleyball title Thursday against Missoula Big Sky.Unlike last season's unbeaten finish, Gallatin brings three losses into this year's title chase. The goal, though, did not change.The team had a simple phrase for that expectation."We say a lot, pressure is privilege just like last year," said senior Kennedy Varda.Fellow senior Miya Chase said the standard is on display in practice."Every day we come in here and that's a goal of ours to get better every single day and improve," Chase said. "We want to improve on the little things in practice and being really just nit-picky about the little things and working really hard each and every day to keep building."Varda echoed Chase's statement."We really focus on not being complacent and just working hard every single day and keeping that goal in mind every single day," said Varda And it just really is what is motivating us," she said. Gallatin has nine seniors, but only five players returned from last year's varsity squad. Head coach Erika Gustavsen spent the season trying to find the right on-court combinations and said that mix created a different kind of veteran group."You know, with nine seniors, you kind of think, oh, they've grown up together and, you know, at some points they've probably played club or middle school together, but all nine of them have not played high school volleyball together until this year," Gustavsen said. "So it is a little bit different I would say. But that's what makes each team unique, is you get to kind of figure out, you know, who they are as a team and how to work together."Gallatin is making their fourth straight appearance in the Class AA state volleyball tournament, but for half the roster this will be a first experience in that setting.Varda said returning players could help settle those pressure moments."It's great to have strong leadership on the court, and we've been there before. So just helping the girls through the pressure situations, they know who to lean on and we got them."While the Raptors don't enter as the top team this season, they still go into state as the defending champs which still puts a target on their backs."You got to show up and you got to compete and you got to battle every night," said Gustavsen. "So really staying focused on our preparation in practice is our number one focus and pushing ourselves every day to get better and then focusing on just the next opponent ahead."Gallatin will open against Missoula Big Sky on Thursday at 4 p.m. at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.</div>

Block Source: swxlocalsports.com

Misinformation

Clickbait

Old or repetitive news

Explicit content

Location not relevant

BOZEMAN, State — Gallatin will begin its chase for a third straight Class AA volleyball title Thursday against Missoula Big Sky. Unlike last season's unbeaten finish, Gallatin brings three losses into this year's title chase. The goal, though, did not change. The team had a simple phrase for that...

Gallatin takes aim at third-straight state championship

NewsBreak

BOZEMAN, State — Gallatin will begin its chase for a third straight Class AA volleyball title Thursday against Missoula Big Sky. Unlike last season's unbea

Gallatin takes aim at third-straight state championship

Comments