2024 varsity volleyball season preview: Red Bay Lady Tigers

With less than two weeks remaining until the start of the new season, the Red Bay High School varsity volleyball team is looking to serve up higher expectations this fall. Coming off a 2023 season that ended early in the area tournament last season, the Lady Tigers are aiming to clear that hurdle and push farther in the 2024 campaign.

“I went into my first season with high hopes, being that we had six seniors and a lot of volleyball knowledge on the roster. We ended our season with a loss to Winston County in the first round of the area tournament,” second-year Red Bay head coach Elizabeth Scott said. “Our goals this season are to win the area tournament and then work towards a new goal.”

Despite the loss of a half-dozen players from last year’s squad, Scott said her team still has some experience and is optimistic about some younger players who have moved up from junior varsity to varsity.

“Although we lost six seniors, our team is made up of returning players. A few of my starters are coming into varsity from junior varsity,” she said.

Scott went on to describe some of the players she believes will play important roles for the Lady Tigers this season. 

“Gracie Weatherford is our outside hitter. She has a lengthy volleyball history and is one of our leaders on the court. Gracie has been out, healing from an ankle injury, most of the summer. She is back on the court and working hard to improve physically and mentally,” Scott said. “My starting setter, Addyson Blackburn, is a 10th grader. She has a high volleyball IQ and puts in the hours to improve each game. 

“Our middles are Raegan Gordon and Haidyn Emerson, both returning from last season. Anna Kate Burks is coming back as a hitter and has experience playing multiple positions on the court,” she added. “A player we will heavily rely on this season is our libero, Kyla Blackburn. She is coming to varsity from junior varsity. Kyla doesn’t lack hustle. She is gritty and gets after the ball. She isn’t afraid to work hard and play harder. 

“My seniors, Gracie Weatherford, Anna Richardson, and Raegan Gordon will be team captains and set the standard for team spirit, dedication, and sportsmanship,” Scott said.

With her players this offseason Scott said she has keyed in on a few areas where the Lady Tigers need to improve in order to have success.

“The focus for our team during the off season was to get stronger,” she said. “At Red Bay, we incorporated an all-girl athletes workout program this summer and each player was encouraged to attend a certain number. Most of my girls had no problem making all of them. That means a lot for our program.

“There’s always room for improvement in our communication on the court. Our mistakes during summer play, even last season, were from lack of communication,” Scott added. “Our bad serves hurt us last season, so that was an area of focus during practice last season and now. I have seen a lot of improvement in them.”

Scott said Red Bay’s first goal is to win the area tournament this year and go from there, but no matter what she wants her team to give it their best and make the community proud.

“I expect my girls to practice hard, give their full hearts and minds to our team and make a difference for our program and school,” she said.

Red Bay will begin its 2024 season at home on August 22nd with matches against Itawamba and Tharptown.