The 2020 volleyball season held an eye-crossing, mind-blowing, and emotional roller coaster ride for the Hackett Lady Hornets. It was filled with crazy summer practices riddled with covid restrictions, player quarantines, and playing without a different starter for six weeks straight followed by winning District AND 3A State! After taking the gold in 2019 in the 2A, the Sr Lady Hornets turned around a gave a double dose of trouble by doing it again in the 3A and ending with a 22-1 record. This season, the Lady Hornets plan to continue chasing championships all over again and then some.
With a solid volleyball program coached by Bridget Freeman and Broc Adams, the Sr High team has some heavy hitters moving into their senior year meaning opponents will be unable to stop the rise! Returning players for the Sr Lady Hornets are senior Madeline Freeman who will be in the setter/right-side hitter position. “Madeline is a leader on and off the court and a gamechanger,” explained Coach Freeman. Senior, Shayla Foster, is moving into the libero position and “brings a lot of energy and communication on the court.” Senior, Kenadi Wright, middle hitter, “brings a huge block and power attacks.” And senior, Sarah White, will be moving into the defensive specialist position. “Sarah brings great hustle and defensive plays.”
Junior, Mackenzie Mendenhall, outside hitter, “brings consistency through her hitting, defense, and serves,” and sophomore, Alona Rothwell, middle hitter, “has the experience of already playing in the State Tournament as a freshman and will bring a big block and great swing to our game.” Hidden gem players to watch for this season is junior Lilly Slavens and sophomore Aubree Ruggles who will see some court time as hitters while junior Kyleigh Hill will help her team with her setting or defense.
In every season, there is always that one game that the team marks on their calendar as THE game. For the Sr Lady Hornets, it’s none other than numero uno! “I think for all of us, it is the first game! We are all ready to play and no matter who the opponent is, we just want to step on the court and get after it again!” When it comes to what the Lady Hornets will be bringing to the court, “Our strengths would be that I have several returners who have already been in big games before. All my kids have been playing club ball through the winter, have amazing attitudes, and we have tremendous hustle plays from all our players. Our weaknesses would be the fact that we are basically one team comprised of three club teams so we have been working on putting our puzzle pieces together this summer.”
The future yet again looks bright for the Lady Hornets who open with their annual Black and Gold game on August 24 at 6 pm. “I expect us to be strong passers/defenders with great setting, so we just need to put the ball down as hitters and hopefully that can take us back to the state setting again!”
