One thing is for sure concerning this year’s Hot Springs Lady Savage Heat volleyball team, conditioning will be key and playing time will not likely be a concern.

The reason for the angst is a turnout of just seven players to start the year. Six players are on the court during a match, leaving the Hot Springs crew with just one substitute.

And to make it more of a challenge, five seniors, including three starters from last year’s team have completed their high school volleyball careers.

Gone are front line anchor Lizzy Fisher and key players Savannah Roosma and EmmaRae Rasmussen.

If that wasn’t enough, the Lady Savage Heat will be without Katelyn Christensen, arguably one of the best players in the region. Christensen blew out her ACL last season and is reportedly being held out of volleyball to give the knee more time to heal and get back on the basketball court, where she is also a standout player.

If that all sounds like hopeless obstacles to overcome, you wouldn’t know it by the small but spirited group of seven who will take to the volleyball court this year.

Hot Springs will no doubt be looking to senior standout Lily Winn for leadership and all around play as the season gets underway this weekend.

Winn, who is also a standout basketball player, will hopefully find solid support from a pair of underclassmen, including junior Lily DeTienne and sophomore Lauryn Aldridge, who showed signs of great promise in her freshmen year.

Also counted on to help out will be senior Moira Lonergan and junior Josie Uski.

All of the lower class players saw varsity time last year when injuries and illness took a toll on rosters throughout the District.

“We don’t have a very big group,” said head coach Alisha Pablo. “Low turnout can be one of the frustrating things for small schools from time to time. We will do our best with what we have and hope for the best. We do have some pretty good players to put out on the court.”

The thin roster will be tested this weekend when the Lady Heat travel to Drummond to take part in a tournament with a tough field of entrants, including the host school.

Hot Springs opens its home schedule Thursday, Sept. 2 when they entertain always tough Superior in the Savage Heat gym.