At some point, most coaches have said their strategy is to take it one game at a time. Matt Leonard is simplifying things even more.

The Goffstown High School girls volleyball coach has stressed to his team the importance of breaking each game into smaller portions, and it has resulted in a 4-0 start.

Leonard took the idea from assistant coach Sarah Stank, motivating the players to be the first team to score five points, 10 points, and so on.

“That’s the focus, and they’re really buying into it,” Leonard said after the team beat Central on Sept. 11. “They get more excited that we’ve won 12 of the 15 games to five than they do about winning three full games.”

In the first four matches of the season, the Grizzlies have lost just one game, winning in straight sets against Timberlane and Central with a 3-1 victory over Nashua South in between. Then on Monday, Sept. 14, the girls shut out Trinity.

The win over Nashua had extra meaning to Leonard, as his team had never beaten South.

Returning players Amelia Raymond and Jackie Borror lead the group, and the Goffstown mentor said he expects the pair of four-year starters to play all-state caliber volleyball throughout the season.

Leonard said Raymond, a captain, has had a major influence on her teammates.

“Amelia gets to balls I have never seen anyone get to, and her leadership style makes that infectious,” said Leonard. “She instills that in every other player on our team, and our defense has been swarming. Not much has been hitting the floor.”

Other veterans seeing significant playing time are Leana Berube, Jill Turcotte and Britt Neuman; the consistent trio keeps errors to a minimum. Last year, the Grizzlies hosted and won a playoff contest for the first time in school history before falling in the second round.

“I had a lot of conversations over the summer with the girls, talking about who we have coming back,” said Leonard. “It’s in their heads that we can do some good things. They realize we have the ability and skill, and a lot of the players returning are the ones who got us over the hump last year.”