Samson volleyball filling major vacancies

By Jeremy Wise

Published: August 6, 2008

In volleyball, finding a replacement for one setter may be tough, but trying to find two in a two-setter offense is tougher.

That is the challenge facing Suzanne Elmore and her Samson Lady Tigers volleyball squad.

Last year’s team lost four seniors, but two of them were setters Kallie Revels and Tori Pridgen.

The other two were outside hitters Kaylee Clark and Brandie Wood.

Revels also did some middle hitting for the 16-10 Lady Tigers

Elmore said filling those holes will be difficult.

“We are having to start all over finiding two setters. We are trying to replace the hitters. They were three strong hitters,” she said. “We‘ve had to do some reorganizing.”

Elmore said that reshuffling will be the biggest issue the Lady Tigers will have to deal with this year.

“(The key) will be staying focused on volleyball and working together as a team due to the reorganizing,” she said. “It’s sometimes hard to come together (with the shuffle). We have to start with the first practice and practice hard as we can.”

A part of that reorganizing was sending senior Trianna Reeves to setter along with sophomore Hannah Gillis.

Reeves served as a good hitter and passer for the Lady Tigers last season, Elmore said.

For the hitters, senior Jordan Jones and junior Jennifer Whatley are likely to be the replacements.

Strengths of the team have to do with personalities and desire.

“We don’t have any bad attitudes, so we don’t have to deal with that this year,” Elmore said. “They want to win.”

The team is young overall with three healthy seniors. One senior has yet to be cleared by doctors to play.

“The young ones are still trying to get the volleyball skills,” Elmore said.