Andrew Jackson Academy Volleyball Program Having Historic Success In 2024 Season

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Ehrhardt — During the summer, the Andrew Jackson Academy volleyball team, including some junior varsity players, attended a skills camp at Wofford College and it appears that experience has helped build record success for both teams this season.

Zach Boltin is the new varsity head volleyball coach for the 2024 season at Andrew Jackson Academy. As of October, 4^th the Lady Warriors were (13-2, 5-1)  with a strong goal of winning the school’s first region title in volleyball in recent memory. (Maybe ever).

Some of the varsity wins have come over Thornwell, Chester, Strom Thurmond, Jefferson Davis, Dorchester Academy, Holly Hill Academy (twice) Cross Schools, and Thomas Heyward Academy.

At the same time, the junior varsity team, head coached by former Wade Hampton High School stand-out Carmen Mixon, is currently (11-1, 4-1) and also enjoying the best volleyball record in recent memory.

Coach Boltin is assisted by Kaylee Carter and Mixon.

“McKinley Beard is our 5-10 sophomore outside hitter and she is the player we like to get the ball too,” said Coach Boltin. “In our game last night (October, 3^rd) against Holy Trinity (won 3-0) she had 16 kills which gives her 201 kills for the season.

“She strikes the ball very well and she has great movement on the court,” said Coach Boltin talking about the team’s top player. “Our setter Bella Carrigg had 18 assists in the same game and she set up the majority of Beard’s Kill shots.”

Carrigg is a sophomore middle blocker who had a team leading 211 assists going into the game with Holy Trinity. Carrigg also has 19 serving aces top her credit. 

Beard is one of the captains along with senior middle hitter Ryleigh Trivette. “Ryleigh does a good job on the front row with 38 blocks so far this season,” said Coach Boltin. Trivette had 31 kills going into the match with Holy Trinity.

Senior Ryleigh Barnes has been in the program for five years. “Ryleigh is our Libero and she plays  very good defense on the back row,” said Coach Boltin. Barnes had 56 digs and 9 assists for the season, prior to the matches with Holy Trinity.

Freshman Harlo Sease is another talented freshman who is a defensive specialist for AJA. Sease went into the Holy Trinity match with 54 kills and 10 blocks and she is very aggressive at the net.

Sophomore Mary Grace Hiers starts in the back row as a defensive specialist and she averages one dig per set.

Carrigan Moore is a talented sophomore middle hitter who is also a next level softball prospect. Moore had 22 serving aces going into the match with Holy Trinity.  “Carrigan is a very good all-around player for us,” said Coach Boltin.

Sophomore Kingslee Carson starts as an outside middle hitter. Carson had 38 digs prior to the Holy Trinity match as the HSSR was going to press.

Junior Carly Smoak is a defensive specialist who has 24 assists on the season. Junior Alex Johnson is also a defensive specialist averaging nearly one dig a set. Sydney Crosby is a senior defensive specialist and she is usually the first player who come sin off the bench.

AJA has six varsity players involved with outside AAU volleyball programs. They are Sease, Beard, Carrigg, Hiers, Carson, and Moore.   

The varsity has remaining games at Patrick Henry (Oct.-7), host Beaufort Academy (Oct. 9), play at Colleton Prep (Oct. 10) and complete the regular season at home against Colleton Prep (Oct. 14).

The state tournament will take place once again starting on October, 19^th in Myrtle Beach.

“Last year was the first time the volleyball team at AJA had made it to Saturday, with the tournament starting on Friday,” said Coach Boltin. “I feel like if we keep playing together, and stay focused on being fundamentally sound, that we have a chance to compete for a state title.

“We still have a lot of improving to do but when we play together, with good communication on the court we are hard to beat,” he said. “We have never won a region title in volleyball and that is our strong goal this season.”

Turning to the up- and- coming junior varsity program, Coach Mixon is proud of the effort of her team so far in the 2021 season.

“First of all, I have enjoyed working with Coach Boltin and Kaylee to help improve the success of both our varsity and junior varsity volleyball programs this season,” said Coach Mixon. “All three of us are young ourselves (mid 20’s) so we have very good communication with our players.

“Taking the teams to the skills camp at Wofford College for three days this summer was a great thing for the advancement of our volleyball program at AJA,” said Coach Mixon. “One day the girls were working on individual skills relative to their positions and on the third day we got to see them in team competition where they were able to put what they had learned into action on the court.

“It was a very positive learning experience for the girls and it was certainly a learning experience for the coaches as well,” said Mixon. “Both teams have worked very hard. I feel like the success of the junior varsity team will help build the depth on the varsity for the few years also.

“Our communication on the floor this season has been much improved with both teams,” said Coach Mixon. “The girls are very coachable and they all get along very well.”

(On a side note, folks travelling on I-95 at Exit 38 need to exit and travel a few miles to Shuman’s Stop & Shop for the best boiled peanuts in America! Coach Mixon owns this country store and the home-made egg salad sandwiches are fantastic also).

Three of the junior varsity players participate on year- round AAU teams. This includes sophomore setter Izzie Brandt, 8^th grade setter Amiah McClung, along with freshman Libero, Peighton Jones.

Other hard-working members of the junior varsity include: Kylie Hiers (7^th-DS), Bhrettlee Hutto (8^th-MH), Adalyn Crosby (7^th-OH, DS), Braelyn Hall (10^th-MH), Madison Lyons (9^th-DS), Delane Bessinger (10^th-DS), Nala Tuten (8^th-DS), Connelly Smoak (10^th-OPP), Chloe Musser (10^th-DS), Delanie Bessinger (8^th-DS, S), Adalyn Westberry (9^th--OH), Abby Ayer (9^th-OH), and Kiley O’Herien (8^th-DS).