The Palo Alto High School girl’s water polo team looks to start out strong in its first home game of the season at 6:45 p.m. tomorrow at the Paly pool.

With Danny Dye becoming the new varsity coach this year, the girls are under new leadership.

The team had little notice of the coaching change to prepare for the season, according to sophomore utility Claire Drebin.

“He has worked well with the quick preseason time we had, as we were unable to work together over the summer as a team due to the late hire,” Drebin said.

Dye is a veteran in the field of Paly water sports.

“I have been coaching in this league for 13 years, eight at Los altos and five here at Paly,” Dye said.

This year’s changing coaching is not a big jump due to his past experience coaching at Paly, according to Drebin.

“Danny’s experience as a coach at Paly and his strong swimming background have been very useful for our team, and he is a great coach,” Drebin said.

Dye brings a new element of freedom to the team, according to senior captain Emma Wolfe.

“I lead some practices sometimes and I think that helps a lot,” Wolfe said. “He gives us a lot of freedom.”

With the new coaching comes a new team with different goals.

“Last year teamwork wasn’t really one of our goals but I really think this year it is,” Wolfe said. “Not just friends, but people who work together in a challenging sport.”

With a central focus on teamwork, the Vikings will go in to their first home match of the season against rival Henry M. Gunn High School tomorrow at the Paly pool and try to figure out how to work together successfully.

“My main goal is to build a strong team atmosphere,” Dye said. “Everyone working together and supporting and empower each other win or lose.”