Salina Central’s volleyball team beat Newton 25-18 and 25-20 on Oct. 8, giving them their first conference win and putting them above Newton in the conference standings. 

The Mustangs, 7-19, lost to Andover, ranked first in the conference, 25-18 and 25-20 in the game prior to Newton. 

“They had a positive mindset after the Andover game, even though we lost,” head coach Brandon Stephenson said. “They knew we were right there. Then, knowing with the win over Newton that put us back into that sub-state contention.”

Senior Tessa Snyder said the team was proud of its performance against Andover. 

“I think coming off of that Andover game, we were all feeling pretty proud, even though it was a loss,” Snyder said. “I mean, Andover is a great team. They’ve only lost two so we were feeling good. And then we went into the Newton game and we knew what we needed to get done, and we did it.”

The volleyball team had previously lost to Newton on Oct. 5.

“I think we just came out with a different energy for Newton because we had lost to them in a couple of previous games,” junior Allison Robinett said. “I think we just wanted revenge, so we just went out and had confidence, and we were all having fun while playing, too.”

The Mustangs had a clean sweep against Newton on Oct. 10, compared to Oct. 5 where they lost 2-0. 

“Even just comparing last night’s match against Newton to when we played them on Saturday, we just came together more, we really clicked,” Snyder said. “Our energy was up. Our communication was there. We were more enthusiastic.”

The whole team noticed a difference between this match and the rest of the season, sophomore Katy Wagner said.

“I think last night’s match, we did a lot better compared to everything else,” Wagner said. “It was more put together; everyone was just in the right spots. Everyone just seemed to have a better flow than at the beginning of the season.”

Stephenson said that going forward he hopes that they can continue to improve.

“We’ve got to trust that process and get better day after day after day,” Stephenson said. “And when you have a new coaching staff come in, it just makes that process longer. And it reiterates, you should trust the process, buy into the system, buy into what your role is.”

Stephenson is a first-year head coach after previously being the freshman coach. 

The volleyball team plays in a triangular meet tonight against South and Junction City for senior night.