GREEN RIVER — Green River enters the 2026 volleyball season with expectations as high as they’ve been in years, but second-year head coach Andri Dewey says the focus isn’t on repeating last season, it’s on building a new identity.

After advancing to the Class 4A State Championship match in Dewey’s first season as head coach and finishing as state runners-up with a 26-6 record, the Lady Wolves return a veteran core that has spent the offseason preparing for another run among Wyoming’s elite.

Dewey said the team’s commitment throughout the summer has stood out.

“I’ve been really proud of all of our girls this summer and the work they’ve put in,” Dewey said. “Our junior class has really set the tone. Sailor Richardson, Jill Westenskow, Brookelyn Phillips, and Athena Clement have made showing up a priority all summer and have done a great job leading by example. They’ve been consistent in the weight room, at open gyms, and at camps, and that’s the kind of commitment that raises the standard for everybody else in the program.”

She added that several players have taken significant steps forward during the offseason.

“We have a lot of girls who have taken big steps this offseason as well, and that’s been exciting to watch,” she said.

The Lady Wolves’ buy-in has extended beyond the court and into the weight room, where Dewey said the program has enjoyed record participation despite coming off one of the best seasons in school history.

“Taking advantage of our time together in the weight room during the summer has always been something I’ve emphasized,” Dewey said. “What’s been really exciting is that our girls don’t seem satisfied with what we accomplished last season. If anything, they’ve come back even hungrier.”

According to Dewey, attendance has consistently exceeded expectations.

“Our girls’ weight room attendance has been outstanding all summer long,” she said. “We’ve broken attendance records multiple times, the weight room has been packed.”

She also credited the culture throughout Green River athletics for helping reinforce the importance of summer training.

“I have to give a ton of credit to the other coaches at GRHS who are stressing the importance of summer training,” Dewey said. “Our new cheer coach, Ryli Blumel, especially. She has been with her team in the weight room almost every day this summer, and they’ve been the most consistent group by far. I really think we’re going to see the positive effects of that commitment across all of GRHS athletics in the near future.”

Despite the success of her debut season, Dewey was quick to shift the praise toward her players and coaching staff.

“I really think all of that success belongs to the team and my coaching staff,” she said. “I’ve told a lot of people that I couldn’t have asked for a better group to begin my head coaching career with, and I truly mean that. They set their goal of winning a state championship from day one and never backed away from it. They’re outstanding athletes, but more importantly, they’re even better people and taught me so much about humility, perseverance, and tenacity.”

She also credited her assistant coaches for helping guide the program.

“I think having Rikki Shantz on my staff is kind of a cheat code,” Dewey said. “She brings years of head coaching experience and is the only coach in GRHS Volleyball history to win a state title. She helped me tremendously with everything that comes with being a head coach.”

While Green River graduated key contributors from last year’s state runner-up squad, Dewey said she’s eager to see both returning players and younger athletes embrace larger responsibilities.

“Honestly, I’m excited to coach every single one of them,” she said. “We have a really good mix of experienced players and younger athletes who are ready to compete. A lot of girls will have the opportunity to take on bigger roles this season, and I’m excited to watch them grow. I think we have great leadership, a lot of depth, and a team that’s hungry to keep improving.”

As preseason practices begin, Dewey said establishing this year’s identity is more important than trying to duplicate last season’s success.

“Our biggest goal for the first couple weeks is to begin to establish our identity as a team,” she said. “Every season is different, and we don’t want to spend our time trying to recreate last year’s team. We want to become the best version of us.”

She believes that process starts with daily improvement.

“That means building chemistry and competing every day in practice while embracing the process of figuring out who we are,” Dewey said. “If we can focus on getting 1% better every day, we’ll be in a great position when the season starts.”

The Lady Wolves will once again face a tough schedule in Class 4A, with matchups against perennial contender Kelly Walsh and a rising Evanston squad, returning 4A program Cody, nonconference opponent Mountain View and county rival Rock Springs.

“I think the obvious answer is Kelly Walsh,” Dewey said. “There’s definitely been a bit of an unspoken rivalry developing over the last couple of seasons, and they’re consistently one of the top teams in the state.”

Dewey also expects Evanston to be among the state’s top teams again, is looking forward to seeing how Green River matches up with Cody in its return to 4A, believes Mountain View could be one of the top 3A teams this season, and said the annual rivalry with Rock Springs remains one of the highlights of the schedule.

After coming within one match of a state championship last fall, Green River enters the season with confidence, experience and a renewed hunger. Rather than chasing last year’s accomplishments, the Lady Wolves are focused on writing the next chapter of one of Wyoming’s top volleyball programs a year ago.