The most wins in program history since 2012. The most conference wins since 2013. It had been six seasons since the women's volleyball team experienced a great amount of success. But, this team's turnaround didn't happen over night.

Succeeding their 2018 season and completing her fourth season, head coach Ashley Preston recognized that a change needed to be made in order for the team to be more successful. The team needed a shift in the culture which led to the birth of The Code: Being Our Sister's Keeper.

"Volleyball family first, self last…" - Assistant Coach Nicky Cannon

The team was desperate for cohesiveness. As a starting point to recreate their culture, the team and coaches became students. Together they read and studied books, such as The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon, that was centered around teamwork, goals, and positivity. They watched videos of Brené Brown who preached trust, courage, and vulnerability. In addition to learning and studying, the team leaders formed specific core values of what they wanted the team's identity to look and feel like which steered them to the formation of The Code: Being Your Sister's Keeper. The team's definition of Being Your Sister's Keeper is to be relational, responsible, and respectful. Assistant Coach, Nicole Polster, describes its importance as being, "…the backbone of the program." The Code: Being Your Sister's Keeper is hard to forget, as it is pasted on the wall of their locker room, in the team's powerpoint, and continuously reiterated.

The Code (Core Values) 

Be Your Sister's Keeper

Volleyball Family First 

Be Respectful 

Think Before You Speak 

Be Relational 

Commit to Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone 

"It's holding each other accountable but also saying, hey I care about you, I care about our team…" - junior Gaby Barcelos

Knowing what they wanted as a team, they started implementing The Code: Being Your Sister's Keeper. Practices were consistently energetic and competitive. They each held each other responsible to maintain and protect the culture they adopted. A space called the Reset Room, was created for players to freely visit, to reset and refocus if they felt themselves falling off and needed positivity. The team also made sure to recognize those who stood out as Being Their Sister's Keeper. Weekly, one player was voted by the team and coaches for Being Their Sister's Keeper and received the Gold Ball (a gold-painted volleyball). The representation of the Gold Ball is that the player was the most relational, respectful or responsible amongst their teammates off the court. Each person on the team had completely bought into the new change.

"It's a commitment and a mindset. We need to focus in on who we are as a team, rather than just thinking of your individual self on the court …" -Team Leader and junior Haley Carmo

Most importantly, being your sister's keeper allowed them to play as one whole unit and not as several individuals on a court. They found a way to work as one, to push each other and still have fun doing what they love, playing volleyball. The unity went beyond the starters, the bench is part of the entire unit. As Gaby Barcelos describes it, the team prides itself on having a "lit bench". Every individual is there for the team; if they are not playing, they are cheering from the sidelines or giving starters tips from studying the opponents. Everyone understands they have a role no matter their position, no matter their status.

This team's camaraderie showed on paper. For the 2019 season, they had doubled the amount of overall wins from their previous season. Hoping to pickup where they left off last season, the team continues to stay focused on their cohesiveness through their virtual meetings. Since the postponement of their season, the coaches and team leaders make it a priority that they preserve the team's culture. But, no matter the circumstances or challenges they face during these unprecedented times, one thing remains the same…Be Your Sister's Keeper.