As the volleyball season was beginning, the team was working hard to get some wins this year. With the players and coaches, dedication, practice, and time, let’s hope the teams will play well this season. The coaching staff have spent days after school working with the girls to make their season good. The coaches are the head coach, Mr. George Bellinger, and the assistant coach, Mrs. Melanie Smith. At the practices, they like to work on reaction drills and spiking. They also do scrimmages during practice to make the team confident about the games. ,
“I wanted to play volleyball because my mom was a really good volleyball player and I wanted to try it out to see, and I enjoy it.”. Madison Dalesandro, the seventh-grade volleyball player, said. Madison also said, “The qualities that make her a good teammate are that she is always cheering on her teammates, and supporting her team even though they are losing.”
The volleyball team had lots of confidence as they started the season. The seventh grade won their first game against New Castle, and the eighth-grade team won their first game against Union.
They are progressing with their mechanics and skills, they both have been doing well with getting a bump, set, and spike, to send the ball over.
“I love playing volleyball because I get to leave school early with my friends for away games, and I get to be with my friends more,” Piper Fitcher, a volleyball player, and seventh-grader said. Coach George Bellinger was impressed with how far the girls improved and he is ready for the 2025 season next year. One difficulty the team has had this season was for the away game at Shenango. The bus didn’t show up until almost 4 pm. That made the team not have a lot of time to practice. Another difficulty so far was that on March 12, the bus that was supposed to take the team broke down.
“I like to play volleyball for the school because I think I am good at serving and playing front row,” Brooke Sarvey, seventh-grader, and Bulldog Barker Staff, said. The seventh-grade team has been working very hard at practices, they have been following the ball to the line, and they have been getting more than two contacts when they receive the ball. The eighth-grade team has had good practices, they have good servers, and they have Emily Lawrence, an eighth-grade volleyball player, as their setter.
“I like the sport and it helped me make new friends, I just always wanted to do volleyball,” Madison Knopp, volleyball player, and seventh grader said.
Knopp also said, “My favorite part is going to away games because it is just a good experience and I get to see what other schools are like. Both teams have had a good season and the teams were very excited over all of their wins this season. The school students and staff enjoyed watching the games and the teams cannot wait until next year!
