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Girls volleyball is now the beneficiary of the switch of seasons. There are now wide open spaces and no being pushed out of the gym as athletic directors try to find winter practice times for everyone.

Michelle Huber, the new Cros-Lex varsity volleyball coach, is one that has been involved in playing in the winter and fall. The 1998 Yale graduate, played prep volleyball with the Bulldogs in the winter season, then went to fall when she played at St. Clair County Community College. Then, after graduating from Saginaw Valley State University, where she played softball, Huber landed a teaching and volleyball coaching position at Yale. After fours years of winter volleyball at her alma mater, Huber and volleyball are back in the fall. And, Huber likes it a lot.

"It's a big change. I like the switch," explained Huber. "It gives you more time to prepare for the season. And, everyone is excited about coming back after summer. There's a little more energy."

Huber does not believe there is much effect on the transition from winter to fall for the girls, as far as stepping into a practice. "It's not a huge transition. Most of the girls would be in training for a different sport anyway."

The biggest things she sees is the energy the girls have, and that is helping in her practice sessions where she is showing some new techniques that the Cros-Lex girls have not all been exposed to in the past.

Huber, who will teach 6th grade math and language arts at C-L, has been coached by some the best volleyball people in the area - Carl Trupp at Yale, John Knuth at SC4 (and Marysville), who, as the A. D., is one of her bosses at Cros-Lex, and Terry Gamble, Iowa Western University coach, who had great success at SC4 and in AAU. She is trying to put some of the lessons learned from those coaches into her philosophies for the Lady Pioneers.

Cros-Lex has a young squad that will try to compete for a BWAC title this fall. Huber, after some early rigorous practices, had a chance to see her team in action with scrimmages against USA, Ubly and Caro at USA earlier this week.

"We have a lot to work on, "said Huber. "We didn't look as a good as I want, but we have time to prepare yet." Probably more time than playing in the winter.

The Lady Pioneers will begin their season next Thursday with a quad match at Sterling Heights Stevenson.

Three other Sanilac County volleyball teams open their seasons this Saturday. Marlette and Sandusky travel to the Bad Axe Invitational and Brown City competes in the Carrollton Invitational.