As the NAIT Ooks Men's Volleyball team heads into the final stretch of the season, Head Coach Phil Dixon is highlighting a principle that has shaped their mindset the past couple weeks of training - F.P.F (Focus. Play. Free). 

Drawing on the leadership strategies outlined in Jocko Willink's book, the Ooks have adopted a "no excuses" mentality this season , where every player and coach takes responsibility for their actions and contributions on and off the court.

"I think for any team, everyone has to take full responsibility for their actions", said Phil Dixon. 

For this team, the Ooks have cultivated a culture grounded in discipline, trust, and shared responsibility as they chase their championship aspirations. However, Coach Dixon believes there is still a level that the guys could reach. 

"There's definitely another level we could reach in terms of competition, especially going into this week with provincials", said Dixon. 

NAIT has shown they belong among the nation's elite, challenging the top-ranked teams every step of the way. Their back-to-back three set sweep against the country's number one team at the time, Keyano Huskies, highlighted the Ooks' capacity to go head-to-head with the very best.

A major contributor to the Ooks offensive firepower has been their middle-pipe attack. When executed effectively, it stands out as their most potent weapon. 

With a relentless mindset and dedication to keep going, the Ooks are getting ready to show up and show out in provincials coming up. As they prepare for championship bound this week, their key components are staying disciplined, composed and never getting complacent. The Ooks hit the court on February 26th against the Lethbridge Polytechnic at 8pm.