With the fall harvest ready to blossom into full bloom, Northampton head girls' volleyball coach David Faust is optimistic his team can take a cue from the season and follow suit.

Dealing with a 1-6 record heading into play this week, Faust knows his team can still reap some benefits over the next few weeks of the season. He believes one notable victory can provide the necessary spark his team needs to ignite them for the remainder of the season.

"We have been playing well and have been competitive," he said. "We have a number of girls who are very hungry to win and we have others we need to get there. So far, it is safe to say that it is an underachieving year for us with some good seniors and a sold class of juniors.

"We're just looking to find the right combination."

Although they have been looking for a total recipe for success, Faust has been pleased with the play of senior outside hitter co-captain Emily Koehler, who leads the team in kills and digs and junior setter Alexis Morgan.

"(Emily) Koehler is having a solid season and she is proving how she is one of the better players around in the area," Faust said. "Alexis (Morgan) has really worked hard and has developed into a good, consistent setter for us.

"Both girls really have done a good job for us."

Along with the duo, Faust also noted the play of senior co-captain Leana Carvin, who had been a pivotal part of the program for the past four years.

While Northampton has played several team very close - including those in their division of the Lehigh Valley Conference (LVC) - it will take a victory over a high-caliber team to have them headed in the right direction, according to Faust.

He cited a loss to defending state champion Parkland in which the Kids were within striking distance the entire match. They lost games 25-20, 25-18, and 25-21 to the Trojans less than two weeks ago.

"We can say that we held our own against them (Parkland)," Faust said. "We were right there with them. But we just couldn't get over the hump. It has been like that for us the entire season."

Despite recognizing some obvious frustration from him, Faust stated his team has been dealing with the process.

"I don't think they are frustrated," he said. "We have a good core of upperclassmen and they know what is at stake. They know what they aren't doing and we all have to be on the same page to correct everything.

"As a coach, I have to be able to try and piece this all together."

He is still hopeful his club can turn the tide.

"We need to keep working and do the things we need to keep this headed upward," Faust said. "We want to make do what we can now to reap some benefits later. We have to build to a crescendo to end the season."