DMS volleyball improving early

The Demopolis Middle School volleyball team is four games into its young season.

The Lady Tigers opened with losses to Brookwood and Northside at the Tuscaloosa County Middle School Tournament on Sept. 5. The DMS team then moved on to a Hillcrest tri-match where they dropped contests against Hillcrest and American Christian Academy.

First-year coach Angela Sanders, a former University of West Alabama volleyball player, has been impressed with the growth of her squad despite the 0-4 start.

“We may have not come out victorious so far but in practice we have been improving everyday,” Sanders said. “These girls have worked so hard in practice and have improved greatly. I think our biggest challenge is implementing what we have learned in practice into a game. In practice, we look great, almost like we can beat any team out there. Then we get into a game and almost everything we have worked on is forgotten. I know before the end of the season these girls will get over the nervous jitters and incorporate in a game what we learn in practice.”

While the Demopolis volleyball program’s youngest players are still working on the fundamentals and mechanics of the game, Sanders said her team has displayed a genuine desire to learn the sport.

“Our team as a whole has grown greatly in every area of the game. The biggest part I think we have achieved on our team is our passion for the game,” Sanders said. “I think when we started the year some of the girls though it would be an easy year and they would just be able to play and have fun, but these girls have seen how hard we work in practice and how much being an athlete really matters.”

While the on-court results are a work in progress for the squad, Sanders expressed her surprise at the chemistry her team has displayed in the season’s early going.

“The biggest surprise I have come across this year is our team unity,” Sanders said. “I have played volleyball my whole life, as well as both of my sisters, and I’ve never seen a team get along so well. Usually there are cliques and multiple arguments on a team, but with this team these girls truly love one another and support each and every one of their teammates. I’ve never been on or worked with a team that has meshed so well together.”

The Demopolis Middle School volleyball team consists of Corie Hall, Napoleon Roberson, Cheyan Wilkinson, Taylor Vail, Madelyn Brooker, Chandler McCrory, Mary-McClain Colgrove, Sara McVay, Chelsea Jackson, Kavalyn Bryant, Destiny Prisock, Maci Nettles and Breanna Carter.

The team will play its only two home matches of the season Tuesday, Sept. 17 against Southview and Thursday, Sept. 19 again West Blocton.

The Lady Tigers are set to travel to Southview Sept. 24 and West Blocton Oct. 8.