Hawks+strive+for+success

HawkAs the Hawks get their first kill of the game, fans cheer loudly and the players pump one another up with their uplifting support and intense excitement. For the past few years, McGehee has strived to create an amazing volleyball program that has not only created a large fan base but has also been extremely successful. I’m sure most of you have been a part of a McGehee volleyball scene and you know what it’s like. The enthusiasm and pride coming from the McGehee fans is something that you have to see to believe, but many started to question what this year’s season would be like without the seniors from last year. This group of talented and committed seniors had been together for many years, and it showed when they were on the court. Most of them had been the key players on the team for a while, and without their presence, no one knew what to expect. Just as the fans were wondering what the season would be like, even more so were the players.

As summer came to an end, the Varsity volleyball season was just beginning. New captains were assigned and many of the players who had been considered underclassmen were now expected to be leaders. Sam T. (08) said: “It has been really neat transitioning from the underclassmen into one of the leaders on the court; however, I still look up to the more experienced players both on and off the court, just as I did last season.” The players have had to switch their lineup as opposed to the way it had been for the last few years. With different people setting and different people hitting, the team had to make up for the loss of the seniors but still remain successful. When asked about the first game without the seniors, Captain Kendall F (09) said: “It was very different but it was exciting to see how this year’s team would connect...” This new team was filled with talented players, but in order for them to be successful, they would all have to work hard to build the team up in order to make up for the loss. As the season moved on, we saw both frustration and excitement from this group of girls. The team had formed great chemistry and this resulted in several big wins, one of which was to Sacred Heart, a team that McGehee had not beaten in almost a decade. While we saw wins, we also saw losses, but the team kept their heads up and continued to work hard. Their weeks were focused on 5 to 6 days of training and the stress of school at the same time. All of the players agreed that it did take up a lot of time, but when they won a game, all the hard work was worth it.

There is still a lot of the season to come, but what had to be changed in order to keep up the success? The seniors from last year had been some of the girls who had helped start off the volleyball success at McGehee, and all the younger players agreed that they were intimidating at times. Obviously, every player on McGehee’s team this year missed the leadership and skills of last year’s seniors, but they all agreed that it was far less intimidating. Many felt that this year’s team was a lot closer than previous seasons and this was crucial for the team’s success. Senior Ayanna H. says: “There is good chemistry on the team and everyone is comfortable with one another.” She also felt that everyone was open with each other which often times resulted in better practices and better games. Everyone has their eyes on the Hawks as district matches start to get closer and the idea of state draws near. Will the girls have what it takes to make it all the way to state?