In sports, communication is an attribute that young teams usually don't possess.

Communication comes with experience and is one of the most important aspects of any sport.So one would think that the Jim Thorpe Olympians volleyball team because of their youth would have some issues communicating on the court.On Thursday, the Olympians showed that they're definitely wise beyond their years, defeating Schuylkill League opponent Tamaqua, 25-13, 25-13, and 25-8.Thorpe's (3-3) starting lineup boasts just one senior in outside hitter Erin Shigo. Shigo is surrounded by two juniors, two sophomores, and a freshman, but against the Raiders many of the athletes suited up in red, white, and blue looked like seasoned veterans."Our younger players have been getting better each time we hit the court," said Shigo. "You could see that in the way we communicated tonight. Everyone is talking and that's key in volleyball, it can really be a difference maker. The most important thing is that our team is improving with every game we play."Jim Thorpe not only did a good job of keeping momentum within the match, but also kept Tamaqua from gaining momentum. The Olympians got out to a big lead in all three sets and if the Raiders made a couple of plays to bring the game close, Thorpe always countered. Thwarting the opposing team's offensive runs is once again a trait that's usually linked to a seasoned team."We were able to pass the ball well tonight and our front line converted the opportunities that were given to them," said Jim Thorpe junior hitter Jillian Peterson. "We've all improved so much from last season, including myself. I think everyone is playing with confidence too. We're just reacting and making plays out there."Gaining experience, winning games, and improving every night out is a pretty good equation for qualifying for the district playoffs. A postseason berth is a goal that was set by this year's Olympians squad in the off-season and if their solid play continues, there's no reason why they can't accomplish such a goal."This is a great group of girls who will work hard every time they're given the opportunity to play the game," said Jim Thorpe coach Victoria Nichols. "We've already come such a long way since the beginning of the season and I'm thrilled with the improvements. If we can continue to get better as the season goes on this team can surprise a lot of people."SHIGO SHINES ... Jim Thorpe senior Erin Shigo has been a leader for the Olympians volleyball team pretty much since she stepped on the varsity court three seasons ago. Thursday night was no different as she led Thorpe with nine kills. Her skill and her ability to lead is one of the key reasons the Olympians have realistic postseason hopes.FORCE AT THE NET ... Junior hitter Jillian Peterson plays with a lot of energy and that was visible against the Raiders. Peterson was all over the net on Thursday, coming up with four kills and three blocks. Even more important than her stat line was Peterson's ability to change the offensive game of the Tamaqua's front line, forcing it to make a few mistakes because of her length.FRESHMAN PHENOM ... Olympians freshman Kelsey Carroll was all over the place on Thursday and her ability to make her teammates better is something rarely seen in such a young player. She tallied 19 assists and was very solid behind the service line coming up with five aces.