The online student news source of Lovejoy High School

The Red Ledger

The online student news source of Lovejoy High School

The Red Ledger

The online student news source of Lovejoy High School

The Red Ledger

Volleyball team served by youth

Varsity roster features seven sophomores and just three seniors
While district playoffs were not as successful as planned, varsity volleyball still plans on being an aggressive competitor in the run for state.
Morgan Hykin
While district playoffs were not as successful as planned, varsity volleyball still plans on being an aggressive competitor in the run for state.

Sometimes in sports, youth take a toll on a team. However, that’s not the case for the 2014 Leopard volleyball team, currently 8-0 in district play. With a roster of 15 players, the Leopards have only three seniors on the team.

“I think that the youth is sometimes a bit of an issue,” head volleyball coach Jason Nicholson said. “Sometimes we are a little up and down. Sometimes we don’t have a lot of consistency because we’re young, so sometimes we get a little error prone because of the lack of experience from a skill standpoint and a volleyball standpoint”

However, the youth of the team does bring something positive.

We play a bigger role on the team and I think that will help us in the future years.

— sophomore Lexie Smith

“They bring a lot of energy,” Nicholson said. “A lot of positive influence as far as what they are doing and excitement to what they’re doing too.”

The players that have varsity experience try their best to be leaders for the younger players.

With her teammates awaiting the ball, junior Jordan Fate gets ready to set the ball.
Morgan Hykin
With her teammates awaiting the ball, junior Jordan Fate gets ready to set the ball.

“I really like being a role model to my younger friends,” junior Jordan Fate said. “That is one of the most important things to me; setting a good example for them. Being older on the team this year and filling the captain position, I’m a lot more vocal. I’ve really stepped up this year to try to get them comfortable and smarter with the game.”

Even though some of the leadership is coming from juniors with varsity experience, seniors are important to a team with so much youth.

“[Senior leadership] comes on the court and off the court as far as training and those type of things,” Nicholson said. “With me being new to the program as far as getting everything established and the traditions that are here, I think it’s important for that senior group to really teach the younger kids what’s expected of them.”

Featuring just three seniors on the team, they feel the need to take it upon themselves to set the standard for the underclassmen.

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“I think that it is so very important that we lead on and off the court,” senior Emmaline Stockton said. “They are the future of this program and will carry this team on their backs. Displaying the qualities about what it means to be a Lovejoy volleyball player is so important and I can’t wait to see this program flourish and see what God has in store for these amazing girls. So why not us seniors try to build the foundation for these girls.”

With only a few games left in the regular season, players that are new to varsity have had time to adjust to the game and even step up as leaders of the team.

“Callie Holden, she’s only a sophomore, but this is her second year on varsity so she’s as far as varsity experience she’s not really a sophomore since she got to do it as a freshman last year,” Nicholson said. “Bailey Downing has been huge for us in the middle. She’s had some games that were tremendous in helping us push through and making sure we’re doing what we do. We have two defensive specialist’s in Lexie Smith and Morgan Seidl that have done a very good job for us as well.”

Although the team is young, all the sophomores on the team made building chemistry easier.

“I like having such a young team because we all already know each other so well with having half of the team sophomores,” sophomore Lexie Smith said. “It has helped the team chemistry a lot and because we don’t have many seniors we play a bigger role on the team and I think that will help us in the future years.”

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About the Contributors
Kevin Davis, Sports Editor
Kevin Davis is returning for his fifth year is the newspaper program in middle school, and is a senior this year. He is also the sports editor of The Red Ledger for the second consecutive year. His favorite sport to cover is volleyball, because of the recent success the volleyball program has had. He plays outside linebacker for the leopard football team and wears number 22 because of ex-Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith, however his favorite football player is Adrian Peterson. On the weekends, Kevin enjoys watching the Oklahoma Sooners, Dallas Cowboys, and hanging out with friends. His favorite restaurant is Buffalo Wild Wings (medium boneless buffalo dry rub). Also, cold stone is vital for a complete meal after eating at BWW. Also, music is very important to Kevin. If he could, he would have background music playing throughout his whole day. His favorite genre is rap, his favorite rapper is Kanye West, but he listens to just about everything. Although he can’t play any instruments, he can play Through the Fire and Flames on expert on guitar hero three. Other than guitar hero, he is not very interested or good at video games. Another skill that Kevin possesses is photoshop and graphic design.
Morgan Hykin, Photographer
How much does a polar bear weigh? Enough to break the ice. Welcome to my Bio. No I am not a Freshman, Glad we got that out of the way. Because God died for me, Everyday I choose to live for him Hobbies include: eating, procrastinating, thinking I can play soccer, talking about my hometown Asheville, North Carolina (aka the best place on earth), and attempting to make clothes. No, but really Asheville is the best place on earth. If you haven’t already, go search Asheville, NC. Can I say I told ya so? I told ya so. Warning: can be slightly sassy, and sarcastic on occasion. Since this assignment is due in about 5 minutes I shall end this with a masterpiece of humor: Did you know that Napoleon had a long lost brother? I guess they were Bornaparte. Ok one more… My Boyfriend broke up with me because he said I quoted Linkin Park to much, but in the end it doesn’t even matter, another for good measure? I have a fear of speed bumps but I am slowly getting over it. last one promise, What did the buffalo say to his son when he left for college? Bison. haha sike Why do robbers not get puns? because they take things literally. Oh ya and I guess I take a photo here and there for the red ledger.

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