The Armuchee Middle School volleyball season has just kicked off a little over a month ago with their first game against Pepperell Middle School, and the team has only progressed from there. The team has met many obstacles, but they persevered through the challenges and have grown closer together as a group. 7th grader, Reese Dixon, said, “We have had a lot of complications this season, but we have powered through all of them. Coach Preston has done a good job at pushing us in the right direction.” They have found ways to build new connections with each other, and their new coach is helping them do so. Although their season is already halfway done, they are fully prepared for the games that lay ahead.
Development as a team is crucial to being successful. 8th grader, Carly Cox, said, “At first the season was rough because we had a lot of losses, but throughout the season, it has gotten better.” When asked about how practices look, Carly said, “We do lots of passing drills, but also have lots of fun and laughter at practice.” The work that they have put in has resulted in confidence that now radiates off the court. Carly said, “Our win against Ashworth boosted the team’s confidence.” The positivity from the team’s win heavily outweighs the effect of the previous losses, and ultimately upped their confidence. The team has really grown with their mindset during the game, which can be hard to do at a younger level. Carly Cox said, “We are starting to shake it off whenever we make a mistake, and continue to play as if we are focusing on how we can improve from our previous mistake.”
A team’s practice builds the foundation for their performance in matches. 7th grader, Reese Dixon, said, “ We practice four days a week, and we have games on Monday and Wednesday. It’s such a positive atmosphere with everyone always encouraging each other, and it’s a good learning environment.” A coach’s helpful support allows a team to thrive. Reese Dixon said, “Whenever you are struggling, coach is always there to give you some helpful tips.” The environment a coach provides for their athletes is essential to a team’s foundation, and Coach Preston, Hulsey, and Abston seem to have provided just that for the kids so far. The progress seen in the athletes is shown in their confidence in their abilities, their attitude towards their teammates, and their general perspective on the season.
On every team there is often one person who always uplifts other players, and encourages them. Joy Holsomback, a 6th grade JV player, is known for having this outlook. Joy said, “The season has looked really good, and we have improved a lot, and we know our teammates better.” Joy is seen as the leader on the court, especially because she plays the setter position. She can be described as the “backbone” of the JV team because of her positive attitude and her ability to focus on the improvements in their team. She said, “I have seen improvement from my team in our serves; some of our best servers started out struggling with an underhand.” She believes that her ability to focus on her teammates’ present abilities, and see through their past struggles, shows how well-rounded of a player she is.
With the 2025 middle volleyball season coming to an end, the team shows many undisputed strengths that have been acquired these past several months. They have strengthened and become more consistent with their serves and their hits. They have overall built up their bonds as a team, they have found ways to work together under pressure, and they rely on each other for team plays and for help. Joy Holomback said, “The past couple of games have gone well, and the JV team is currently undefeated. We have played like a team instead of just individually.” Rather than being solely a team, they have become a family, and they cannot wait to see what the remainder of the season holds for them. The foundation that has been laid for this team can pave the way for the future players that will join in the 2026 season.
