Aberdeen Central will be a bit short on experience, but long on potential this volleyball season.

The Golden Eagles have just a handful of returning members from their state tournament squad a year ago.

“We’ve got some kids coming back,” said Central coach Jackie Bindenagel, “but a whole bunch of kids that have never seen that varsity court before.”

That’s not to say that the team will be void of talent. Far from it. Bindenagel likes the athleticism she sees from her young squad.

“I think the most exciting thing is that they’re very versatile,” Bindenagel said. “The potential is so high and these kids seem really eager to learn.”

The team will be led by some familiar figures. While just a sophomore, Lauryn Burckhard is battle tested in the front row. Alivia Miller also returns, but will be in a new position this season.

“In Alivia’s case, she ended up hitting for us last year and now we’re looking to have her set,” Bindenagel said. “She’s very versatile, very athletic.”

Maddie Sandvig and Kenadi Withers are also proven players returning to the squad this season.

Other members expected to make significant contributions including Mya Arampatzis, Amelia Rife, and Karlie Nieman.

“We’ve got some really good pieces to fit together,” Bindenagel said.

The key word is potential, and it’s a word that members of the Golden Eagles have heard more than once.

“We’ve had the potential talk in that gym so many times, because it’s there,” Bindenagel said, “and they need to believe it.”

Therein lies the key to unlocking that potential. Bindenagel said it would be beneficial if her squad could establish some early-season success to help in that belief process and foster leadership roles.

“We need to get out there and these kids need to get a couple of wins under their belt, and just understand exactly what they could do when they stay really focused on that,” Bindenagel said. “So when the wheels start to fall off a little bit, who’s going to right the ship? Once we establish that, I think we’ll be in a pretty good spot.”

The Golden Eagles start out the season with a flurry of matches, hosting Brookings on Tuesday, Rapid City Stevens on Thursday, and Rapid City Central on Friday at Golden Eagles Arena.

Bindenagel, in her sixth season as head coach, said the goals remain the same each season: top three in the Eastern South Dakota Conference, a home match in the round of SoDak 16, and a trip to the state tournament.

Central has been involved in numerous five-set matches in recent years, where one or two possessions can determine the outcome.

“To tip the scales so we’re winning those five-set matches, a lot of it is between the ears,” Bindenagel said. “You’ve got to be conditioned, you’ve got to know the game, and then you’ve just got to be tough about some things.”

While Bindenagel and her staff provide instruction on technique and strategy, is there a way to coach mental toughness?

“We try and do that by competing in as many drills as we can in practice, so we’re keeping a lot of points. We stat things,” Bindenagel said. “Then you get to the game and hopefully it’s just like old hat.”

With a campaign that will feature many players in new roles this season, finding the right pieces to the puzzle may be a work in progress.

“It’s going to be a season of growth and finding out where the pieces fit best,” Bindenagel said. “We’ve talked to the kids about being flexible and team-minded, which they are, and then just know that any adjustment we make is to get the team better.”