Halfway through the 2023 season the Armuchee Indians Volleyball Team has seen great success, leading the region in the areas of hitting percentage, kills, assists, blocks, and digs. They started their season off with 20 wins, four of which were region wins against Chattooga and Coosa on September 14th and Dalton Academy and Trion on September 21st. The team has integrated new players over the years. This year Kaylee Harper, Freshman middle hitter, who came from Rome High School said, “Everyone welcomed me in and treated me like I was one of them from the first practice.”
The volleyball team has grown together more than ever. They have practiced everyday since mid July and have participated in many team bonding activities such as a tournament in Gatlinburg Tennessee, and hanging out as a team before games. While in Gatlinburg the team stayed at the Wilderness hotel together and competed with 64 other teams placing 5th overall. This was a huge accomplishment for them considering most teams they played were from significantly larger schools. The atmosphere of the team is very important and has helped them to become and continue to be successful. Addison Blanton, Sophomore defensive specialist, said, “I feel like we are a really tight-knit group. And I feel like all of us are friends and no one is really out to anyone, and it’s just a lot of fun.”
While playing sports and doing school work, athletes must have to know how to balance the two together. Aubree Crider, sophomore libero, said, “I always make sure to leave enough time for my schoolwork.” Aubree always makes an effort to make sure her school work is done -before any sports because student comes first in student athlete. With the team playing an average of two games a week it is a rough schedule and the athletes have to create a routine. Along with game days they have daily practices where they run drills and work on “The little things” as Coach Decker always says. They do drills such as ball control lines and servers vs passers everyday and while it is not always fun doing the same things it helps the girls to perfect the basics. The girls work one game strategies such as knowing where to serve or where there are holes in the opposing teams defense as well as seeing their own holes and knowing how to cover those.
Volleyball is the type of sport where the team must be a family and work together this helps grow young kids into outstanding individuals. Emma Peschel, Sophomore middle hitter, said, “I started playing volleyball in 3rd grade, and I have definitely improved a little bit. I remember in 7th grade when we came to watch the highschool game and that’s when I knew I wanted to play highschool volleyball.” Decker has always been a positive and encouraging coach for the girls, Peshel said, “Decker always pushes us to do better than we know we can do.”
Overall the volleyball team is looking forward to the region and state tournaments. They hope to continue their season and earn a second region championship.
The teams overall record stands at an impressive 24-10 with the team standing 6-0 in the region and hoping to continue on undefeated with hopes of hosting the region tournament on their home court. Last year was the first year Armuchee has ever won a volleyball region championship. The team hoped to continue the streak with a second victory and go into the state tournament a one seed. A decent way into the season, Assistant Coach, Coach Dunagan said, “Our season is going well. We’ve had some high highs and some low lows but that just happens that’s part of it. Overall I would say we are peaking at the right time.” The coaches and players are all excited about the ending of the season and hoping to go far into the playoffs.
