Lily Pancost is embracing the opportunity to help lead Sylvan-Lucas High School volleyball into what she believes can be a special season.
The Sylvan-Lucas standout is especially excited about the chemistry within this year’s group and the potential that comes with playing alongside teammates who genuinely enjoy being together.
“I’m really excited about the group of girls I’m getting to play with this year,” Pancost said. “We mesh together really well and just genuinely enjoy being around each other.”
Pancost also sees plenty of skill throughout the roster. With a strong back row, she believes the team can make its middle game even more effective while creating opportunities for its outside hitters.
“We have good back row which makes my job easier and is helping us excel at our middle game and opening up our outsides for stronger hits,” Pancost said.
Pancost spent the offseason preparing herself and her team for the demands of the varsity season. She participated in school summer ball, which she considers important for building chemistry and establishing how the team wants to play once the season begins.
She also attended a K-State volleyball camp with several teammates, where they gained valuable repetitions and instruction while competing alongside talented players.
“We got a lot of reps and good tutoring and we got a chance to play with some really good players which is always helpful and really fun,” Pancost said.
Her preparation also included summer weights, running and plyometrics. Pancost has placed an emphasis on strengthening and stabilizing her knees and ankles while improving her vertical jump and explosiveness.
That work has taken on added importance after seeing her sister suffer an ACL injury.
“I’ve been especially strict on the plyometrics and been a little paranoid about blowing my knee because my sister just tore her ACL,” Pancost said. “It just reminds me how important it is to have the basics down and land correctly because one wrong land and you’re out for the season.”
One of Pancost’s biggest areas of focus entering the season is improving her vertical. She knows she doesn’t have a major height advantage, so she has worked to make up for it through training.
“Unfortunately I wasn’t blessed with a ton of height and my vertical doesn’t really make up for it,” Pancost said.
But her goals extend beyond the physical side of the game. Pancost also wants to strengthen her mental approach, particularly as she takes on more pressure this season.
She believes mental toughness can be just as important as physical ability when a player is struggling.
“A lot of people don’t think about players’ mental game when they see them struggling,” Pancost said. “It’s not a lack of skill, it’s a mental block they’re struggling to overcome.”
Pancost has spent time during the offseason evaluating her own strengths and weaknesses while also learning more about the strengths and weaknesses of her teammates. Her goal is to understand how she can best contribute when the team needs her.
“I need to be that person lifting my teammates up, not the one who needs lifting up,” Pancost said.
That mindset carries into Pancost’s expectations for the season. She believes Sylvan-Lucas has the talent and chemistry necessary to make a run at the state tournament.
“I think this is the season we make it to state,” Pancost said. “We have the skill, it’s just a matter of putting all our skills together.”
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