Fans get their first look at the Creighton volleyball team this season during the blue and white games

The Blue and White Bluejays’ annual showdown at Sokol Arena gave fans a first look at this year’s team. He did the same for coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth in his 22nd year.

“You could see some players not playing the way they played in practice,” Booth said. “That’s why it’s important to get them in front of the fans, fix some of those issues and get them back to the game they’re good at.”

Booth, in her first media availability of the season, said she wanted this year’s team to play with an edge after it didn’t at times cost the Jays last season.

It was evident throughout a thrilling fourth set as CU’s star-studded lineup — Ava Martin, Kendra Wait, Kiera Reinhardt, Norah Sis and Kentucky transfer Elise Goetzinger — was called into question.

Martin was clutch at this point. So was Reinhardt. And redshirt freshman Jaya Johnson.

“I thought we executed, and that’s what we need to do at the end of the game, being able to step up and be the best,” said Booth, who wasn’t happy with the Jays’ poor execution in a similar spot at the end. from the fifth. “I thought we did a good job (to end the fourth).”

Led by Reinhardt and Abbey Milner, along with Goetzinger, CU’s middle game was one of its biggest hits.

The three impressed, as expected, but Johnson looked ready to contribute.

Johnson — a former top-100 prospect who redshirted a season ago — had some big games in net, both offensively and blocking. She willed her team to the end of the fourth set.

“He has a massive arm. … He’s got a cannon,” Booth said of Johnson, who will fight for time in the middle and on the right side. “I think he did what we saw in practice.”

One of CU’s goals this season, Booth said, is to be one of the best in the country while playing outside the system. He saw a bit of that on Friday.

“To do that, you have to put really good second balls out of the system,” Booth said. “It’s really about second contact.”

Creighton opens the season against NC State on Aug. 30 in Sokol Arena, the first of the Jays’ three games in the Bluejay Invitational.

First, though, they’ll get one last preseason warmup with a game at Colorado State, the team picked to win the Mountain West Conference.

“Colorado State is a very good team,” Booth said. “It’s going to be a battle, which is exactly what we’re looking for.”