Pamplico – Experience is everything in sports. Teams that have veteran players who have been through the competitive process before tend to win.
At Hannah-Pamplico High, volleyball coach Dawn Burgoyne says experienced players have her team in the hunt for a region championship. The Red Raiders won four of their first six region 6-A contests this fall and were 8-6 overall as of Sept. 27. Both win totals already are better than last year.
“I have high expectations for this season,” the coach reports. “The majority of my starting players returned this year. They have worked really well together. We have improved on our defense and are so much stronger at the net. We have great communication and we will always fight until the end. I am hoping to advance further in the playoffs than we have in years past. I am really proud of how much they have progressed, individually and as a unit, from 2022 to 2023.”
The Raiders have a roster this fall that includes six seniors and five juniors. Two sophomores have joined the team and have made an impact as well.
The starting lineup has three seniors – Isabella Davis, Jayla Graham and Karan Turner. Juniors Jadan Lee and Payten Poston are joined by sophomore Savannah Owens in the starting lineup.
Other seniors include Ashlyn Smith, Kaytlin Speights and Mallory Tisdale. Rounding out the 2023 roster are juniors Roxy Reynolds and Alileena Singletary, and sophomore Chloe Cooper.
Every successful team has its alpha dogs, or players that lead the charge in their consistent play and high team spirit. The Raiders are no exception.
Poston and Owens are two of the top outside hitters and Davis is a star as the setter.
“All three girls mesh well because of their team effort. Team morale is at an all-time high.”
Entering a match on Sept. 29 against Green Sea Floyds, the Raiders had won two games in a row in region play. Lake View is the team to beat in region 6-A.
All Rights Reserved | The High School Sports Report 1986-2021