DECATUR -- The successful 2015 volleyball season at Decatur High School has spurred an interest in the program, giving rise to a second team.
Over the summer break, the volleyball team practiced in the mornings to avoid the hot afternoon heat. In spite of this handicap, many of the girls from last year made every effort to make practice.
The team traveled to Branson, Mo., to participate in a volleyball training camp that yielded positive results for the up-and-coming Bulldog senior girls' team.
"In the last week or so, we have really seen things come together," said Jessi Castagna, Decatur volleyball coach. "We have a big group from last year returning for this season."
Decatur will return four seniors this season. Shaney Lee, one of the original student organizers, and Cameron Shaffer will take on the role as team co-captains. Their leadership, along with that of Taylor Hopkins and Isabel Rodriguez, is expected to make the Bulldog volleyball program a spectator's delight.
"We moved Shaney Lee to the set positions to fill a hole when we lost one of our seniors last year," Castagna said. "She is doing an awesome job in her new position."
Along with the four seniors, the Decatur volleyball program returns three juniors from last year's team, including Desi Meek, whose aggressive style helped to lead the team to several wins last season. Five sophomores will make up the remainder of the team.
One surprise for Castagna was the number of middle-school and freshmen students expressing an interest in the sport. This led Castagna and John Unger, Decatur's athletic director, to form a junior-high team this season.
"We had a remarkable response to the volleyball program this summer," said Castagna. "This surprised all of us. In the end this will definitely help us to bring up new players the team will lose to graduation over the next few years."
The Bulldogs will be playing in the 4A conference for the first time. The Bulldogs were ineligible in 2015 because of its first season. They will play area teams such as Gravette, Gentry and Shiloh Christian.
This poses a challenge for the Lady Bulldogs.
"Our biggest challenge will be Shiloh Christian. They had two players that made it into the college ranks," said Castagna. "I think we will do alright once we get away from the big 4A schools like Gravette and Lincoln."
The Decatur senior team will play its first home game against the Eureka Spring Highlanders Aug. 25 at Peterson Gym in Decatur. The game starts at 4:30 p.m. For more information on the Decatur volleyball team, including the junior-high games, go to decatursd.com/ athletics.
2016 Decatur Volleyball Schedule:
• Aug. 23, 4 p.m., Union Christian, Fort Smith
• Aug. 25, 4:30 p.m., Eureka Springs, Home
• Aug. 29, 4:30 p.m., Green Forest, Home
• Aug. 30, 4:30 p.m., Shiloh Christian, Springdale
• Sept. 1, 4:30 p.m., Gentry, Away
• Sept. 6, 4:30 p.m., Lincoln, Away
• Sept. 8, 4:30 p.m., Gravette, Home
• Sept. 13, 4:30 p.m., West Fork, Away
• Sept. 15, 4:30 p.m., Prairie Grove, Away
• Sept. 20, 4:30 p.m., Elkins, Home
• Sept. 22, 4:30 p.m., Shiloh Christian, Home
• Sept. 26, 4:30 p.m., Bergman, Away
• Sept. 27, 4:30 p.m., Gentry, Home
• Sept. 29, 4:30 p.m., Lincoln, Home
• Oct. 3, 4:30 p.m., West Fork, Home
• Oct. 4, 4:30 p.m., Gravette, Away
• Oct. 11, 4:30 p.m., Prairie Grove, Home
• Oct. 13, 4 p.m., Elkins, Away
• Oct. 15, Junior High Conference Tournament at Bergman
• Oct 17-19, Senor High Conference Tournament at Green Forest
• Oct. 24, State Tournament at Paris
Sports on 08/24/2016