Volleyball coach Gregg Sasan isn’t quite sure what to expect.

And it’s all part of the fun.

“I only have three returning players with varsity experience,” he said. “It should be exciting!”

Sasan’s primary goal this season is to compete well. He hasn’t seen the girls play another team yet, and he’s looking forward to watching them on the court.

Senior Claire O’Neill says her goal for the team is to “stay connected and be close.”

“I want everyone to get along,” she said.

Sasan is entering his 20th year as head coach and his 29th year of working with the volleyball team.

“His record really stands for itself,” said assistant coach Hank Date. “He has taken the Vikings to state 11 of his 19 years as head coach.”

Sasan’s wife Louise has been an integral part of the coaching process. And this year he has another family member helping with coaching duties: daughter Sada Ashcraft, who went to state with her dad all four years of high school. Gregg’s nieces Aliviah and Alenna Garcia are on the team this year, making practices a definite family affair.

“It’s great being around the kids,” Gregg said. “They make me feel young.”

Sometimes he has coached the daughters of players he had years before.

“It makes me feel old!” Sasan said. “But I think it’s pretty neat to see it come around.”

O’Neill and fellow senior Kathryn Tidwell both love coach Sasan.

“He knows how to focus and be fun,” Tidwell said.

Date had similar sentiments.

“I think everyone who goes to his practices comes out a better volleyball player and with a smile on their face,” he said.