Lady Tiger volleyball ready for upcoming season

Any time a team loses the majority of their starters, things can look rather bleak. Throw in a new coach, and the scene is usually set for a trying season, at best. With only two returning starters, and a new head coach, the Lady Tiger Volleyball team is not ready to throw in the towel just yet.

New Head Coach D.J. Dunn will spend her first year at the helm of the varsity squad, but she is no stranger to many of the girls on the team. Dunn has spent the last several seasons as the Lady Tigers Softball coach, and will continue in that role in the spring. She does have some experience coaching volleyball, having coached the freshman team under the departed Coach Engra Patt. Assisting Dunn will be new hire Crystal Mills, who will be coaching the freshman squad, and Jana McGoldrick, who will be leading the junior varsity.

Returning starters will include Courtney Makepeace, who served as the primary setter last season for the Lady Tigers, and Camryn Byrd, who was prominent all over the court last season. Of the 12 ladies on the team, Makepeace and Byrd are joined by five other seniors and four juniors. The roster is rounded out by sophomore Destiny Hurndon.

When asked about her squad, Dunn was pleased with what she has seen to this point in practice. “They are hardworking, and they go all out every time we are out there,” said Dunn. Senior Alexis Williams, according to Dunn, has been a pleasant surprise thus far. Williams, who played for Dunn her freshman year, has not played since. “She always wanted to play on the back row,” said Dunn, who would remind Williams of her height when keeping her in on the front. According to Dunn, she has embraced that height now, and is becoming a solid middle blocker for the Lady Tigers.

There will be no surprise from Dunn when it comes to Byrd being on the court. “She is clutch when it comes to serves. If there is anyone that I want serving with the game on the line, it is Cam,” said Dunn. Byrd has truly become the embodiment of the word leader for the team, as well. Having decided at an early age that she wanted to work hard and become a great volleyball player, Byrd has worked hard to be in her position. As a three year letterman on varsity, she has seen her fair share of ups and downs with the team. “I have learned that whatever I want to do, it is going to take a lot of hard work, and it is important to keep the team first, no matter what,” said Byrd. And keeping the team first is something at which she is definitely excelling. She hopes to impart her knowledge on to the younger members on the team, as well. “If I could teach them one thing, it would be to never give up, and to give God all the honor and glory,” Byrd said.

Will there be growing pains for the Lady Tigers? Sure. But with the leadership in place, it will definitely make for an interesting ride. “The biggest thing we have to work on is working together, and getting the chemistry down,” said Dunn, adding “We have a great coaching staff, who are all up here helping, we just have to trust each other to do their jobs.”