Staff writer
PBHS Volleyball will have a new look and feel this season with the departure of longtime head coach Darren Schroeder.
Isaac Burnett will coach and Sheena Gann will assist. Both first-year coaches are PBHS graduates.
The team will have a core group of four returning starters. All are upperclassmen with experience.
Seniors Christa Elliott, Brianna Larsen, and Rylie McDowell as well as junior Katy Benson lead the squad. Elliott had 33 kills, 16 blocks, and 26 digs last season. Larsen collected 62 kills, 27 blocks and 38 digs. McDowell had 27 aces and 46 digs. Benson earned 33 aces, 83 kills, 33 blocks and 110 digs.
“Coach Gann and I are both experiencing our first year as coaches with high school volleyball,” Burnett said. “We are both excited about the season and working hard to make sure we do our part to make it successful. We will be looking to the upperclassmen to be an encouragement and positive leaders to the younger athletes. Team unity is very important and will be one of the main themes of our volleyball season.”
“I worked with the girls all summer in the weight room. What I can tell you based on that, we have athletes and we have talent on our volleyball team.”
The Lady Warriors open with a preseason home tournament on Aug. 30. Regular season competition opens Sept. 9 at Little River.