At the Net: Merrimack girls volleyball has high expectations

The Merrimack High School girls volleyball team opened this season the way it hopes to end it.

The Tomahawks took the court in last Friday's first match, playing at Pinkerton in the regular season for the first time in a few years.

That meant being on the same court that hosts the semifinals and final for Division I, the same court they've reached in each of the last five seasons.

The match itself certainly felt like it had a playoff atmosphere, as Merrimack came away with a 3-2 win over the Astros.

"It was weird being there when it's not the semis or final," senior Elise Jolly said. "Every single person that was there, in that game, in the stands, on the bench, on the court, everyone was in the game. It was a great feeling, especially since they were close games. The whole team was behind it."

It's a team that, despite losing the Gatorade Player of the Year to graduation for the second year in a row, coach Tammy Lambrou feels is in a good position to make it back to the final four.

"We have a lot of returners," she said. "They've just been overshadowed by some really talented kids. People now look at them more because they're the group of talent. They're still working through it."

Four players - including Jolly - still remain from the team that won the championship in 2014, but with six seniors on the roster, and several players contributing this year who have never been to that state, Lambrou feels it's important for Merrimack to make it back there this season.

"We lose a lot of kids next year, and a lot of them coming up have never been there, so this is the year that it has to be done," she said. "There are a four of them who were on the team when we won the championship. They've been there and know what it feels like. That group of kids (has to) know that they're it now and making sure they take care of stuff because there is no body above them."

Jolly admits that it's been a strange experience, now being one of the players who is looked up to.

"It's a weird feeling, but we know we have to put our best foot forward and set the example," she said. "We know that the rest of the team will follow our lead. If we put in the work, they'll put in the work. We have to set the bar high so that we can all get there."

Merrimack (2-0) returns to action on Friday when it heads to Goffstown (1-1).