The Zion Chapel Rebels volleyball members preach communication everyday during practice, in hopes of correcting one of their weaker links from a season ago.

“We didn’t have a good season last year,” head coach Shasta Barron said of the season that yielded only three wins. “Last season was the worst season I have ever had. We are expecting a better season this year.”

Barron believes the team will improve heading into 2015.

“I have a young team but the difference between this team and other teams is this team works together well and we don’t have bad attitudes, we communicate well and work very hard,” she said.

It will take more than communication for success to translate on the volleyball court; the young Rebels musl rely on physical skills to push them to the next level.

“I have some younger girls who have really stepped up and played,” Barron said. “We have some good hitters and a couple of girls that play really good defense. I think we are a well-rounded team, I don’t think we will more at hitting or anything else, we are a well-rounded team.”

That well-rounded team well be lead by two vary capable seniors, Katie Qualls and Morgan Carter.

“They are good leaders for our team,” Barron said. “We haven’t had this leadership in years past. Having leadership takes you a long way throughout the season.”

Like most teams in the area, the Rebels spent most of their summer doing off-season workouts. The Rebels hosted their own summer volleyball camp that featured Troy University head volleyball coach Sonny Kirkpatrick.

“We have had him come for several years,” Barron said. “The girls are used to having him and they really enjoy it. It’s nice to have that one-on-one attention from him. The guys like him and he does a good job for us.”

Along with their solo matches the Rebels will be in two tournaments this season, in Kinston and in Carol.

The Rebels will kick off their 2105 season at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 27 in Kinston.