Members of the 2008 senior Lady Mohawk volleyball team are, from left: Front--Whitley Blue, Mollie Osburn, Penny McCluskey, Kaitlin Morgan, Jenna Brown and Taelor Lewis. Back--Kelsey Allman, Breanna Yates, Kenna Dennis, Kelsey Nagy, Allison Lambert and Taylor Coomer. (Times photo/Tim Blair) [Click to enlarge]

Prior to Monday afternoon's season kick-off at PHS, Lady Mohawk head volleyball coach Melissa Williams was non-committal on how her young team might fare in the coming season. "Ask me tomorrow," was her only comment.

Tuesday morning, after her senior girls took two of three and made a strong showing ,she had a little better outlook. "We looked pretty good, we've got a way to go but I think we're gonna be alright."

The senior girls, who return only two starters with much game experience, started their season off with a 25-17 win over Harrisburg in the first game they've played in the new PHS gym. In their second game of the night they were put to the test, but held on for a 26-24 win over Jonesboro. In the nightcap the Lady Warriors of Westside got by the Tribe 17-25. Tuesday afternoon they were scheduled to visit Paragould, and former Lady Mohawks Angie Donner and Nikki Pounds.

Last season the Tribe was in a re-building mode after losing eight full-time players to graduation the previous year. Luckily the team came together late in the season and qualified for yet another trip to the state tournament. But, as they had the two previous years, the Mohawks ran into the team from Lavaca and were eliminated.

Once again this spring the Mohawks were hurt by graduation, and during the off-season starter Rebecca Cooper moved out of district. As pre-season practice got underway Williams began the task of structuring a team from a group that includes just two seniors, four juniors and six sophomores.

"Kelsey (Nagy) and Penny (McCluskey) are the only girls back with a lot of game experience," Williams noted. Also returning to the roster after taking a year off is senior Kenna Dennis; while the only other senior on the squad is Kaitlin Morgan. Nagy and McCluskey are both juniors along with Allison Lambert and Taylor Coomer. The sophomores include Taelor Lewis, Mollie Osburn, Jenna Brown, Breanna Yates, Kelsey Allman and Whitley Blue.

This year's junior squad is big in number and size, with a good mix of both eighth and ninth graders. Williams expects them to compete well as the season progresses. Freshman members of the team include Amber Moore, Brittany Johnson, Breanna Wright, Kaela Cox, Macy Buchanan, Allison Gurley, Paige Lockard and Chelsea Blevins. Eighth graders include--Kayla Bond, Katie Moore, Mallory Wright, Meagan Massey, Rebecca Morris, Allison Crittenden, Angelia Haines, Alex Redmon, Hollie Holcomb and Lakyn Fry.

The junior team was scheduled to start their season Tuesday afternoon at Paragould in a non-conference match with the Lady Rams. The junior district tournament will be played at CRA beginning Oct. 18.

The Lady Mohawks are again members of the 3A Northeast conference this year along with Bay, Brookland, Crowley's Ridge Academy, Harrisburg, Hoxie, Ridgefield Christian and Walnut Ridge. Their first conference match will be at Walnut Ridge on Thursday, Sept. 4. Their first home match for the regular season will be the following Monday, Sept. 8, as they host Ridgefield Christian at PHS with the first game set for 4:30 p.m.

The district tournament will be played the week of Oct. 20-25, and the state tournament will be played in Harrison Oct. 28-30. The state finals will be played in Conway on Saturday, Nov. 1.