Lady Bobcats prepare for volleyball season

The high school volleyball season began this month for Orangefield. The Lady Bobcats will be playing in tournaments for the most part until the district games start in early September.

Head Coach Ashlee Peevey of Orangefield said the Lady Bobcats had a successful season last year. "We played in a pretty tough district with Hardin and East Chambers which accounted for our three losses in district action. The Lady Bobcats made it to the second round of the playoffs before being eliminated in a tough five set match. We went out fighting, a sad way to end, but still a lot of fun, I'm very proud of that group," Peevey recapped.

Several Lady Bobcats return from last year's squad with six of them seniors. Peevey insisted, "Those six kids have some pretty important roles. They got their feet wet last year then this year we expect them to play like veterans."

Greenlea Oldham plays the middle for Orangefield and should be a strength there. The setter is Brianna Moore who runs the offense for the Lady Bobcats and is very good too.

Kaylea Gravett and Hannah Block will work in the backcourt. Kaitlyn Jenkins and Lela Francis are returning as outside hitters for Orangefield exhibiting strong efforts in the early workouts.

A backup setter to her older sister Brianna will be Addisyn Moore moving up from the junior varsity. Right side hitter Ava Dyer also has moved up from the junior varsity for this season and was strong in the early scrimmages.

Charlee Sanches and Haylee Spears are two other move ups from the junior varsity playing on the right side and the middle respectfully. "Haylee has had a great summer, and she has really shined in our scrimmages thus far taking over the important role of being in the middle," Peevey analyzed.

A freshman Eliese Gravett should see some time on the varsity for the Lady Bobcats. Peevey responded, "Eliese will play some on our back row. She's just a very fearless competitor, and it's going to be really fun to watch her with her big sister Kaylea playing together."

The Orangefield Lady Bobcats enter the current season with a strong team, but there is room for improvement. "The main thing we need to improve upon and one of our focuses this year in the scrimmages has been our mentality especially on offense. We want the girls to have the mentality that they play fearlessly, we want them to not be afraid, to take a chance, know their role, and play within their means, but not to be afraid. To play fearlessly and growing enough trust with each other to allow us to play that way," Peevey explained.

Carrying over from last year to this season Coach Peevey hopes the Lady Bobcats continue to hustle and play their never quit defense. Peevey added, "That's something I would always want my kids to embody."

Orangefield played its opening game of the non-district schedule on Tuesday, August 8, at Lumberton. The Lady Bobcats won in three tight sets 27-25, 28-26, and 26-24 against the Lady Raiders.

The Moore sisters Brianna and Addisyn had a great night setting with 14 and 11 assists respectfully. Brianna topped Orangefield with 9 digs.

Greenlea Oldham and Lela Francis each had 6 kills to lead the Lady Bobcats in that category. Francis also served 2 aces and made 7 digs.

Haylee Spears had 5 kills, a block, and an ace serving. Hannah Block served 3 aces and had 4 kills.

Orangefield's next game on Friday, August 11, was a lot tougher against Hamshire-Fannett from a higher classification. The Lady Bobcats dropped the match at home in three straight sets.

Greenlea Oldham was the leader in kills with 9, and Eliese Gravett led with 10 digs. Brianna Moore assisted on 14 points while Kaitlyn Jenkins, Addi Moore, and Lela Francis each had 2 aces.

The opening game of district for the Orangefield Lady Bobcats will be Friday, September 8, at Kirbyville. Coach Peevey expects, "It's a tough district that we play in, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Our eyes are always on making as deep a run into the playoffs as we can get. Our eyes are more and more on a district championship. I want that for our program, and our girls want that for each other."

The volleyball program at Orangefield is definitely building to be a strong one. "We had a very competitive junior varsity last year going undefeated the entire season, so that just makes us that much better. We have a great freshman class that's coming in. Our eyes are on some pretty big goals this season. We are a little green in the youth aspect, but definitely are knowledge of the game is there and our work ethic is there. We've just got to hopefully put it all together as the season goes on," Peevey concluded.