The 2023 volleyball season is now in full swing. With a brand new coach and a considerably younger team than last year, the Lady Bears are paving the way for a successful season.
Last month, the Lady Bears placed second in the Silsbee tournament and sophomore Paisley Angelle was named All-Tournament. The ladies have picked up speed since then and are on the right track heading into district play next week.
Johnathan Snipes recently stepped into the role of head volleyball coach and said his main goal every season is to maximize the ability of his athletes the best that he can.
“Every coach wants their team to come out on top, but you can never guarantee a win,” Snipes said. “With the team having replaced many of their starters from last year, these girls having been working nonstop to advance their skills and knowledge of the game. This preseason has helped these ladies to not only grow as individuals but as a team as well.”
According to junior Janniliz Nazario, the team has learned from their wins and losses so far this season.
“We’ve also built a better connection as a team,” Nazario said. “It’s helped the chemistry on the court and our playing style.”
Being a part of any team is time consuming, but for many of the players, volleyball is a part of life. From practices to games, and even team get-togethers, these ladies are always around each other.
“We get along well on and off the court,” Nazario said. “I guess you can say we see each other more as a family, like a sisterhood.”
While these players have been practicing since July, they still have a long season ahead of them as they start preparing for district play.
“We’re gonna have some competition this year,” sophomore Paisley Angelle said.
Nazario is excited to see how far her team goes this season and said all of the players have drive and potential.
The Lady Bears will return to action this Friday when they play the Lady Hawks in Hardin-Jefferson. They will also be competing in the YMBL tournament this weekend. They will begin district play next Tuesday, Sept. 12 when they travel to Bridge City to face the Lady Cardinals.
