Senior-laden Lady Warhawks face long road ahead

By Jeremy Wise

Published: August 13, 2008

The Daleville Lady Warhawks volleyball team will be homeless this year as a gymnasium reroofing project will force them on the road for the entire season.

Lady Warhawks head coach Kala Love said the project is supposed to be completed about the end of September, leaving only a few days of the volleyball season unaffected.

Until then, the Lady Warhawks will not even have their home gym for practices.

Love said her team will have to practice at the Daleville Community Center next to the school.

Her team will have to share a small facility with the middle school team, making even practices difficult.

“It’ll be huge not having the gym to practice in,” she said.

Love said she thinks the changes may have an impact on the season.

“It will probably bother them,” she said. “Always traveling makes a big difference.”

Love said her physical education students, football players and parents attended volleyball games last year, something those people may not be able to do on
the road.

She also said the gym gave her team an advantage.

“The gym helps. We’re used to low ceilings, and other teams aren’t,” she said.

On the court, Love has another concern: trying to find setters.

Sophomore Mikaelah Atchley played on last year’s team, but not as a setter.

She will move to that position this year, but Love, who usually runs a two-setter offense, said she wants to find another setter.

“I need someone fast to pass the ball well enough,” she said.

The team, though, has six seniors, which should be a strength for the Lady ‘Hawks.

“The returners all looked pretty good,” Love said. “I’ve seen my teams look worse.”

The seniors will provide some good hitting, Love said.

“Kayla McDonald is in much more control this year, and Jasmine (Beckham) is killing the ball,” she said.

Love said Sequoiyah Fye, who returns after a year absence, also has been hitting the ball well.

Senior Ashley Buckhalter will serve as the team’s libero.

“She’s good. I can’t ask for a better one,” Love said.

With six seniors and only one junior, temptation may be to get some younger players playing time.

Love, though, said she will play her best players. That does include freshmen who may improve themselves so much that she is better than a senior.

The Lady’ Hawks will open the season Aug. 28 on the road to Geneva, an area contest.

The game starts at 4:30 p.m.