Charleston volleyball fans have been looking forward to this season for five years, and now, it is here! After just five years in existence, the Charleston volleyball program is set for a highly-anticipated 2019 season. Tigers fans will not have to wait much longer. The Lady Tigers open week one of the high school volleyball season with road games at Clarksville tonight, August 26, and at Ozark on Tuesday, August 27. Charleston will host Huntsville for its home season opener on Thursday, August 29.
Today’s games at Clarksville will be a junior varsity match followed by a varsity match. Clarksville is a familiar program to the Lady Tigers and to Coach Ryan Rachuy. “We played Clarksville last year and we had the opportunity to play them this year at Arkansas Tech’s small school camp. They are a good serving team that plays very hard and never gives up on any rally. Coach Turley does a great job in preparing her girls for every match up that they play.”
The Lady Tigers return to the road tomorrow, August 27, to play at Ozark. “Coach Webb has a young program; this is their second season. They are exited about volleyball in Ozark. They played Clarksville during the benefit week, and even though they didn’t win, they competed and played a very close second set. With the support from their school and community, combined with their enthusiasm for the game, I believe that their program can really progress.”
Charleston will play its first regular season home match this Thursday versus the Huntsville Lady Eagles. The night will include junior “A”, junior varsity, and varsity matches. “They play in the tough 4A northwest conference and are a smart, technically sound team. Coach Williamson’s teams have high volleyball IQs and make you earn every point. They beat us at their place last year, so we know that we have to be on top of our game when they come to Charleston.”
The Lady Tigers are fresh from their final preseason appearance at the 3A Preview Festival that was held in Searcy at Harding Academy. The event featured state playoff teams from a year ago in a “jamboree” format where there was no bracket play or champion named. The Festival, following the Lady Tigers benefit week win over the Hackett Hornets has the team ready for a breakout season that begins tonight. “I think the benefit week was very helpful for our teams. Our junior high girls were able to see the level of play that is necessary to be successful in our conference There is a huge amount of potential with them. Our senior high teams played at a high level of competition during the benefit week. I believe that we understand there is no room or opportunity to slow down from the work we must do every day. To meet the expectations that we set for ourselves, we have to look for ways to become better players, coaches, and teammates, and work toward those ends.”
Tonight begins the new season of high expectations that many, including the players, coaches, and community have for this season. Charleston fans will not have to wait much longer; it all starts tonight at 4:30 p.m. in Clarksville. I think Charleston fans can expect to see the Lady Tigers set to make a strong debut tonight in Clarksville. See you at the game!
