“How many teams ever win two championships back to back? Almost none,” a high school volleyball coach (Helen Hunt) tells her team in the trailer for “The Miracle Season.” The girls of West High School seem poised to to beat the odds and claim their second consecutive victory at state championships — until their captain and star player Caroline (Danika Yarosh) dies in a tragic accident.
The team is left reeling and mourning the loss of their friend and strongest player, but it’s the coach and Caroline’s best friend Kelly (Erin Moriarty) who seem to be hit the hardest. Kelly takes over as team captain, but the girls have gone from champions to underdogs without Caroline.
After devoting themselves to the gym and the court, the girls manage to reclaim their concentration and enthusiasm and rebuild their team. They’ve become serious contenders. “You strong women. Win this for yourselves,” the coach tells them before they play the big game.
“The Miracle Season” is giving us female-led “Friday Night Lights” vibes, and was in fact co-written by David Aaron Cohen, who penned the 2004 film adaptation of the football story that went on to become an acclaimed TV series. Elissa Matsueda (“Reversion”) also worked on the script, and the pic is directed by Sean McNamara (“Soul Surfer”).
The film is based on a true story and hits theaters April 13.
