By ECE OZDEMIR
After making it to GAC tournament last season, the NWOSU volleyball team faced a challenging year, finishing with an unexpected record. With a young roster and a focus on rebuilding, this season became more about growth than results. To better understand the challenges, lessons, and goals moving forward, I spoke with the NWOSU volleyball Head Coach Jon Bingesser about the team’s journey.
Q: How would you describe Nwosu volleyball’s team culture?
Bingesser: “You know, I think our team culture is still a culture that has yet to be defined. I think that we have an idea of what we want. I think we know the direction that I want to go, and I know the direction that the girls want to go. It’s just a matter of being able to keep everybody on the same page, which I think we are, but also bring in recruits who can reinforce that mentality. And I think that the team culture that we’re building is one that we all want.”
Q: What qualities do you value most when recruiting student-athletes to NWOSU?
Bingesser: “My first thing when I look for players is, are they good, you know, are they tall, athletic? Can they move? Do they hit hard? Are they aggressive? And then, you know, also, like, are they good people? You know, are they somebody that I can get along with? Personality, kind of overweighs the athletic or the skill set sometimes, but the skill set and athleticism is the immediate eyecatcher. Like that’s what you look for first. And then you can dig deeper into their personality traits to see what kind of student they are, what kind of teammate they’re going to be.”
Q: How do you define success for this team beyond wins and losses?
Bingesser: “You know, this was a crazy year. The universe really was against us. There was a lot of things and events that happened on our team this year that were beyond control, beyond the control of players, beyond the control of the coach. And that was a unique experience. And the thing that I think defined the success for us this year outside of the the wins and loss category was the fact that we were really solid as a team together. You know, we’re not best friends holding hands, dancing around, but we’re definitely a team that understands, you know, what we’re all doing here. We’re all here to play volleyball. We all want to win, and nobody’s out to get anybody, which is probably one of the best things that I could say about our team is that we have that mentality that is supportive, but also, you know, aware. And I also like the fact that we have a really good high GPA as a team and that’s something too, that is, you know, that’s another success that can be measured outside of the wins and loss category.
Q: What goals are you setting for the upcoming season and offseason?
Bingesser: “I mean, the goals for the season are always the same. We want to win the conference. We want to make it to the national tournament. Like that’s, especially in our conference, that’s not an unrealistic goal. I mean, our conference, the only difference between the number one team and the number 12 team is who’s going to make the most errors when they play each other. Aside from that, you know, it’s really anybody’s game, which is, which does allow you to shoot your goals pretty high because they’re 100% obtainable. Also, too, I’d like to see us continue our success off the court as well.”
Q: How do you foster accountability and motivation within the team during tough stretches?
Bingesser: “You know, honestly, I’m very open and direct, and I’m one of those coaches who is going to be transparent to a fault. The first thing I I’m going to do to a foster accountability is to tell them, like, hey, this is what you need to do.”
“And if you don’t, then this will probably happen. And I do rely on the athletes internal motivation within themselves, but there are times where, you know, you do got to give a little bit extra of a boost, you know, just kind of reminding them why they’re here, reminding an athlete, you know, what you see in them, because, you know, none of the players on my team are here just to be here. They’re all here because I genuinely see something in them that can help me and help our program and then in turn help all of us accomplish what we want. So I think just being as transparent as possible with your coaching and with your motivational tactics and with your goals is the best way to foster that accountability and motivation..”
Q: Is there anything you’d like the campus community to know about this team that doesn’t always show up in the record?
Bingesser: “They’re all very smart girls and young athletes, and I really think that, like, they, if you more than just watching us play on the court, if you knew, some of their stories, their history, their backgrounds. And I’m even talking about our girls who are from Texas, who are from Kansas, you know, not just ours, who are from Europe or anywhere else, but everybody on our team has a unique story and a really great family background that they all come from. And, you know, I think that’s probably one thing that doesn’t show when you’re playing a sport is your true personality and our team has a great personality.”
While this season did not produce the results the team hoped for, it played an important role in building the foundation for the future. The experience gained, lessons learned, and commitment to development reflect a program focused on long-term success. As NWOSU volleyball continues to grow, this rebuilding year may prove to be a key step toward stronger seasons ahead.