The Lady Bear Volleyball team will battle the Orangefield Lady Bobcats tonight to see who will get third in district after ending the regular season on Tuesday with a 3-0 win against Hardin-Jefferson. The Lady Bears have already captured a spot in the state playoffs and will have their first playoff game next Tuesday in Kountze.

The team has worked hard to get 6-5 in district this season and has been under the direction of Cammie Palmer, who is in her first year as head coach.

“Being the volleyball head coach has been a learning experience and I have enjoyed it,” Palmer said.

At the beginning of the season, the Lady Bears formed a goal to create a team that plays not only for themselves, but for the entire team.  Now, according to Palmer, their goal is to go all out during every single game.

“The Lady Bears have done a great job working hard as a team,” Palmer said.

According to Palmer, some of the biggest challenges for the Lady Bears have been adjusting to a new system due to a new coach. However, the team overcame these challenges as a team by upholding their expectations and pushing each other to give all they have to give.

Palmer also said everyone on the team has a job and does it well. Senior Maddie Frey currently leads the team in kills while Senior Jordyn West leads the team in assists and aces. Going to playoffs is especially important to West and other seniors on the team.

“It feels great to make my last season to play volleyball even longer than the actual season where I can enjoy it for a bit longer,” West said.

According to West, the team prepares for each game by practicing to be even better than they already are and pushing their limits like they have been since the beginning of the year.

Palmer said she is very proud of the Lady Bears’ efforts and their accomplishments for the season.

“Each has grown as a player and as a young lady,” Palmer said. “They deserve to be in the playoffs and have worked hard to make that possible!”