As the Whitehall girls volleyball team prepares for the upcoming district playoffs, they’ll be relying on what they learned from last year’s experience to serve as a guide in helping them advance this season.

Senior Meriam Deeb said that playing a doubleheader last year to open the District 11 playoffs demonstrated that they needed both a mental and physical resolve to cope with the long day.

They’ll need to be mentally tough as they battle fatigue and the rigors of playing in a district playoff game.

“We have to keep fighting no matter how tired we are,” said Deeb. “You can’t let your mind get in the way of things.”

The Zephyrs will open against Pocono Mountain East, and depending on whether they win that match, they’ll meet Parkland later in the day. That could mean as many as 10 sets depending on how well they play (or how well PME plays).

That’s what they encountered last season as they first met Pottsville and then Liberty, playing seven sets over those two games.

Leadership will play a big role in helping the Zephyrs advance through their bracket. Deeb said that one of the biggest things they’ll need to do is to make sure everyone stays motivated and fully committed. As the only senior on the squad, she’ll be helping her teammates weather the highs and lows that come with each game. It could just take one big block to spark a team.

Deeb, a middle hitter for the Zephyrs, enjoys prowling the net anticipating where the hit will be and then making the block. She prefers that more than a clean kill. She said that a big block can inspire a team and get them fired up.

“The mood accelerates and everyone gets so happy,” said Deeb.

The Zephyrs swept the Cardinals in their meeting this year, winning 25-22, 25-8 and 25-10. Deeb said that they’ll need to be just as efficient if they want to play Parkland in the nightcap of the doubleheader.

“We just want to play even better than we did,” she said.

If they manage to beat the Cardinals, Deeb said they know that Parkland’s not invincible. Liberty proved that in the EPC finals, defeating the Trojans to earn the championship.

Deeb said that they have to look at the Trojans just like any other team and not be intimidated by their record or what they’ve accomplished in the past.

“It’s not impossible to beat them,” said Deeb.

When they step onto the court on Saturday, Deeb said that it’s important to understand that this might be the last time they play all season, and for her, the last time she gets to play for Whitehall. That means they need to be focused and ready to play, especially for the younger players who haven’t experienced the postseason.

“It’s important to help them understand that this could be your last game and you have to give it your all,” said Deeb. “When the opportunity comes, you have to take advantage of it.”