PCHS volleyball program looks to hit higher gear in 2025—and beyond

by Kadin Pounders

Last season’s Phil Campbell High School varsity volleyball team was the most successful among the local Franklin County squads as the Lady Bobcats advanced to the 2024 subregional tournament; heading into its new campaign, PCHS aims to build on that success—and with a new head coach in charge.

Lanice White, a math teacher at PCHS, was hired to take over the Lady Bobcat volleyball program back in May, replacing Julianna Taylor.

White, a volleyball coaching veteran, has spent many years in both the prep and college ranks with her latest stop at Hackleburg High School. She can also boast on her resume that she is one of just 100 coaches in the country with a Coaches Accreditation Program (CAP) Level III certification from USA Volleyball and has worked for organizations like Level Elite Sports, Next Generation Volleyball Club, and SWAT volleyball club.

White said she has been pleased with the reception she and her family have gotten since coming to Phil Campbell.

“I’m really thankful for the community support and everyone just being so welcoming to me coming in,” White said. “They’ve embraced myself and my family into the Phil Campbell culture.”

Since taking the reins at PCHS, White said she and her players have worked on building their relationship with one another. This summer and going into the fall, the Lady Bobcats have taken to White’s coaching methods and have been putting in the effort in preseason preparation, White said.

“Everyone has worked really hard and bought into the pedagogy that we’ve brought in and taught,” the head coach told the Franklin Free Press. “Even though there were several seniors that graduated last year, everyone has stepped up to fill their roles and find their seat on this bus.”

Driving the bus will be White, but she said she will be relying on a trio of leaders to sit up front and help get the team to its destination. Those three are senior outside hitter Avery Cummings, who will serve as team captain; junior Ragan Moss, a libero, as defensive captain; and junior Zella White, a setter, who will captain the attack. 

Cummings, Moss, and White, along with seniors Roxi Molina and Ava Hall, will be expected to lead the squad both on and off the court this fall.

“We’ve got a pretty young team, so we will be relying on them,” White said.

Keep in mind: the Phil Campbell program as a whole is still very young, too—the program started in 2021. However, the Lady Bobcats have had early success, winning one area championship and making multiple playoff berths. 

White’s short- and long-term goals are to build on those achievements through individual progress and continue the program’s advancement.

“We have a high bar of expectation of where this team should go and what our success rate should be. We have individual and team goals that we want to accomplish during the season such as serving percentage, such as serving opponents out of position,” White said. She added that she would like to see her team serve between 85 and 90 percent, achieve a pass rating of 2.5, and first ball sideout two percent better than the opposition. 

“We’re building on what was already there and stepping it up a little bit more. Of course, we have team goals like we want to win the area, but it’s (about) how do we get there? What individual goals do we need to set for our team to be successful?” she said.

“This year we want to be better than .500—that’s one of our goals,” White added. “My long-term goal is I want this program to grow as one of the powerhouses in northwest Alabama. When people think of volleyball I want them to think of Phil Campbell.”

The 2025 campaign will, hopefully for the Lady Bobcats, be another mile marker on their ambitious journey to powerhouse status. That road is never smooth, but White believes this team has the drive to potentially take the program into an even higher gear.

“The great strength of this team is their chemistry…and their work ethic. I’ve never had a team with a greater work ethic than this one,” she said. “The players have really bought into the program and what we’re trying to do. We’re all really excited about this season.”

Phil Campbell opens the year on the road against Wilson and Covenant Christian on Thursday, August 21.