Falkville brimming with confidence for 2006 season
By Staff
Justin Schuver, Hartselle Enquirer
Now in his third season leading the Falkville volleyball program, coach Jeff Andrews finally feels as though the team is ready to take the next step.
The Lady Blue Devils were 24-25 in 2005, with a team that included just seven players on varsity. This season, Falkville will have 11 players including five seniors. Emily Williams and Laura Holladay are seniors who are returning from the 2005 team and Tara Tucker, Sara Tucker and Katrina Barnett are seniors who did not play on last year’s team.
The Lady Blue Devils will need to replace two starters lost to graduation. Kayla Widener was a middle hitter and Savannah Story was an outside hitter and both were key parts of the 2005 team. Andrews said he plans to replace Widener’s position with sophomore Katie Annerton and Tucker will replace Story’s position.
Other players returning from the 2005 team are sophomores Annerton and Paige McCarley and junior Alicia Sparkman. McCarley will be a right-side hitter and Sparkman will play middle-back defense.
Andrews is also returning both of his setters from last season.
Falkville was the area champion last season and hopes to repeat but will have to do so against a new slate of opponents after re-alignment. Tanner remains in Area 15 while West Morgan drops down from Class 3A to join the Lady Blue Devils’ area.
In order to get back to the regional tournament this season, the Lady Blue Devils have loaded their schedule with a slew of potent opponents. Falkville has non-area games scheduled against Class 5A schools Brewer, Hartselle, Arab, Decatur and Cullman as well as games against Class 3A powerhouse Danville. Falkville will participate in three tournaments this season — one at Brewer, one at New Hope and one at West Morgan.
Overall, Andrews has a positive outlook for 2006. Before becoming the team’s coach in 2004, Falkville had gone through three coaching changes from 2001-03. Andrews said that having a consistent coach has given the program a boost.
The Lady Blue Devils’ goal for this season is to at least return to the regional tournament. In order to accomplish that goal, Andrews hopes that his team learns to play with more of a team-oriented mindset.
