Box scores will fill as the 2016 Women’s Volleyball schedule counts down to season’s close. Each will paint the picture of a culture in full bloom.

With every victory and defeat, each member of the roster continues to grow in the selfless environment created by head coach Carl Ferreira.

Long ago, Ferreira replaced coaching with other avenues of teaching that make the game more powerful.

While the traditional aspects of coaching remain in Ferreira’s leadership, he has built a solid program upon developing the chemistry of his players. Ferreira says, “You don’t see chemistry, you don’t see spirit, you don’t see soul, you don’t see heart, you feel it.” The creation of a culture like home, in which there isn’t a hierarchy, has allowed players to unify under a singular identity that doesn’t care what name is on an opponent’s jersey.

This unified mentality has allowed the team to pursue consistency day in and day out. Ferreira considers competition to be a wonderful barometer of his team’s progress toward that consistency, regardless of the opponent.

The team has opened the season strong despite what its record might indicate. A string of tough losses has followed two dominating performances. Worth noting from each of those losses, is just how close each set was. Of the 18 total sets played, the team has only been defeated by a margin of more than 10 points a total of five times.

For a team entrenched in perfecting their craft, those defeats will likely serve more as growing pains than any sort of detraction as the season progresses. The message of creating something bigger than themselves and rising to challenges is paramount to the program, and it seems to resonate within this collective of players.

Leading the charge, Mackenzie Hernandez, Hannah Pope, and Savanah Cano have provided a veteran presence on the floor, returning to build upon the results of the 2015 campaign. Hernandez has dominated out of the gates averaging nearly 6 assists and 3 digs per set, while Savanah Cano has already registered 21 digs on the season, more than four times her 2015 total.

The Renegades have also found a bevy of talent in first year players, such as Jourdon Muro and Sophie Ralphs.

Muro is currently averaging 2 kills per set, while Ralphs is averaging nearly 2.4 kills and digs per set.

This balance of talent from both returning players and first year players makes the Renegades dangerous to opponents. With such an immense level of incoming and returning talent coming together in conjunction with the leadership and culture of the program, 2016 has the potential to be a truly magical season for the Renegades.