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Loud tunes and enthusiasm filled the air inside the Soroco gym Friday during the Rams' final volleyball practice of the week.

Coach Valerie Remick allowed the music during the rare morning practice to help motivate her players.

Usually, the team practices in the afternoon -- something that seems to fit her players' personalities a little better.

"We don't normally have music, but I don't think these girls are used to functioning in the morning," Remick said. "We have to leave early Saturday, so I didn't want practice to go late today."

So, in an effort to inspire the late-risers, Remick brought in the sound system. The players responded by working a little harder as they ran through routine drills and scrimmages.

"We started real strong last year, but then faded at the end of the season," senior Chelsey Reynolds said of her team. "We want to work harder this time around so that doesn't happen."

The Rams had 22 players come out for the team this year but will need to replace the six seniors the squad lost to graduation. Reynolds is one of four returning players hoping to step into a leadership role this season.

Seniors Kaleyne Gneiser, Hallie Shiner and Kaylie Corrigan also are in that group.

"I think we already have taken a leadership role this season," Gneiser said.

The squad will have a strong group of juniors including Karli Babcock, Kalvert Shiner and Kimberly Williamson.

This year's team lacks the big hitters that control the game at the net, so the Rams will use two setters to keep other teams off balance. Remick said the team also has good quickness, which should help on defense.

"This team should be able to keep the ball off the floor," Remick said. "I think that is going to be this team's strength this season."

Shiner said the Rams needed to develop consistency.

"We want to stay together as a team for the entire season," Shiner said. "If we can do that, then we should be OK."

Remick took a junior varsity team to Moffat County on Saturday and elected to keep her senior core at home.

Remick said she decided not to push her players to attend the first week of practice because the Routt County Fair was running.

"I come from an agricultural background, so I understand how important the fair is to our ranching families," Remick said. "We held practices that first week, but I understood that some of the players were going to be at the fair."

Remick said it set her team back a bit, but she expects to be ready for action when the regular season opens in Grand Valley on Saturday.

-- To reach John F. Russell call 871-4209

or e-mail jrussell@steamboatpilot.com