Lady Cat Volleyball 2017 Preview: Program Looks To Capitalize On Returning Players In Addition To New Talent

Coach Haley Garmon has high expectations for the 2017 season.

Edmonson Voice Sports:
The 2017 Lady Cat Volleyball season is here with the first game of the season scheduled to be at home on Monday, August 14 at 5:30pm against Greenwood in a Varsity/JV/Freshman match up.

Head Coach Haley Garmon will begin her second season as the Lady Cats are still in search of their first district title since 2011. They have managed to play in the district finals each season for the past eight years. They have earned runner-up titles for six years in a row, and with eight returning seniors, Coach Garmon likes what she's seen so far in summer practices and workouts.

"I am very confident in our team," she said. "We are bringing back a lot experience which is a huge bonus in the game, but we're even adding in some new faces we are more determined and have a close bond. I tell the girls often that's it's not always the best team who wins, but the team that plays the best together. Our girls are having to work extra hard because we have so much competition within our team this year. Our program has a lot of interest and we couldn't be more excited to get the season started."

Coach Garmon's team will likely focus on the returning seniors, with several of them shouldering some important roles.

"I couldn't ask for a better group of seniors this year. All eight of them lead our team in their own way. Whether it's taking a newcomer under their wing or making sure the team is staying focused, they all have an important role," she said. 

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Senior Mikayla Lindsey will play a major role in the 2017 season.

Multi-sport athlete Caitlin Simon returns in her senior season of Lady Cat Volleyball.

​The Lady Cats also have some new faces this year that have taken on some important roles, but according to Coach Garmon, she's confident in the new players' abilities.  The team also has some returning hitters from last season along with the addition of even more, something of which that a volleyball team can never have too much.  

So is this year one that will add "2017" to the district banner? Are there higher goals set? Garmon says there are big expectations for the upcoming season. 

"At one of our first practices we sat down as a team and set some goals. "Obviously, the girls want to have a great season but we are looking to continue carrying some titles on and also receiving some new ones. These girls are looking to represent themselves, ECHS and community well," she said. "They're a team to be remembered. It's our year."

The team will host McLean County this Saturday, August 12th at noon at ECHS for a scrimmage game. Varsity will take the court first and JV and Freshmen teams will follow immediately after, everyone is invited to attend.