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August 3, 2009

Lady Hornets hit gym with little time to prepare

Regular season gets underway Tuesday

By Jayson Larson Editor

While football players have roughly a month to prepare for the beginning of their regular season, volleyball players are afforded no such luxury by the University Interscholastic League.

So when Athens head volleyball coach Tosha Spain met with players Monday for the first day of official workouts, she knew the clock was already ticking. By Saturday, Spain — entering her third season at the head of the Athens program — will be leading her players into their first scrimmage (a multi-team contest in Eustace).

The regular season starts a few days later, Tuesday to be exact, in Mabank for a dual meet that will also include Wills Point.

“I was really impressed with (the players),” Spain said Monday following a morning workout. “The hustle and the effort was real good. They all came back ready to work.”

Spain said this year’s squad is plenty young, but also full of potential. Though they lost several key players from a year ago — including 20-AAA Most Valuable Player Bailey Starkes — she said six players from last year’s squad are returning.

“We are going to be very young. Physically, I think we’re fine, but the mentality of the young players is something we’re going to have to work on — getting them to believe in themselves like I believe in them.”

The first day of workouts included plenty of conditioning and getting familiar with movements on the court.

“We’re focusing right now on defense,” Spain said. “If we can take care of that, we feel like the rest will take care of itself.”

The Lady Hornets, who have made the playoffs for three straight seasons, finished third to make the playoffs during their 13-22 campaign in 2008. They will make another run at the playoffs beginning Sept. 25 on the road against Brownsboro for their district opener.

The Lady Hornets will open their home schedule Sept. 8 against Mexia.

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