Central High School’s girls volleyball team has not had a winning season since 2012, but a new system of preparation has led the Bobcats to success in 2019.

Central is undefeated in regional play (6-0) and is in position to hang its first regional championship banner since 2003.

The Bobcats’ success correlates with the time that the team puts in for preparation.

First-year coaches Gabe Macias and Alex Ramirez have implemented productive practices, film study and conditioning to give Central the edge over its opponents.

This level of preparation is something that the team has never experienced before.

For example, Central during its fall break had practices that started at 8 a.m. while other teams did not practice at all.

“Last year we only practiced for two hours, and we were never told how to improve,” senior Maleeya Panameno said. “We never got gym time, never went in the weight room, and we never conditioned.”

Senior Keonna Stevens, who transferred from ASU Preparatory Academy, also notices the difference in preparation in comparison to her old school.

“The culture here is so much different,” Stevens said. “At ASU Prep we didn’t have the same materials and we didn’t have gym time, so in comparison Central is more prepared and assistive to us.”

Central has a focused approach in its practices, and the team is always correcting errors to make sure that there is improvement every time the team touches the court.

“The biggest difference is working on drills that actually help our game,” senior Amanda York said. “Looking at how we perform in games and coming into practice to correct our errors really helps.”

Studying film has proved to be a key for Central’s success, as the Bobcats are able to be one step ahead of their opposition.

“We look at who to shut down and what other teams are giving us,” Ramirez said. “We see what they are exposing and what we can capitalize on.”

The players are also able to analyze what went wrong in a match so they can find ways to fix mistakes.

“Film has been super helpful,” Panameno said. “It shows us what we are doing wrong, and that is what the coaches construct our practices on.”

Central also prides itself on its constant conditioning.

“We are the best conditioned team in the league,” Macias said.

The Bobcats did extensive conditioning in the preseason, and they are still conditioning every practice to make sure they have the physical edge over their opponent.

“It’s our foundation,” Macias said. “Everything we do in the weight room physically prepares them for a five-set game.”

 While conditioning can be grueling at times, the players have noticed the impact of the workouts.

 “You can see the difference on the court from last year to this year,” Panameno said. “Last year we didn’t win that many games because we were never in the weight room.”

Outside of all of the practices, film study, and weight training, Central emphasizes togetherness and team chemistry.

Central’s coaching staff presented the team with the acronym, T.E.A.M, which stands for, “Together Everyone Achieves More.”

“This team is a lot different from previous teams as far as comradery,” York said. “Everyone is interactive and everyone wants each person to do better.”

It’s only year one for Macias and Ramirez, but Central has already seen the impact of its new style of preparation.