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Lady Panthers hopeful for post season
PantherSeniorsVolleyball
The Lady Panther senior volleyball players are: Catherine Scaggs, Jeanna Rountree, Candace Poole, Jalesa Reynolds, Breanna Norfleet and JD Davidson. - photo by Photo provided.
Liberty County High School’s volleyball squad endured its fair share of struggles this season. Transitioning into a new region while adapting to a new coach, the girls fought hard and are now battling for a shot at the playoffs.
Last week, the team celebrated its senior game and honored six athletes who will graduate in May. Catherine Scaggs, Jeanna Rountree, Candace Poole, Jalesa Reynolds, Breanna Norfleet and JD Davidson played their final home match as Panthers.
LCHS coach Sandra Eichholz described the season as a “learning curve” for her and the players, but said the seniors who want to play in college must increase their efforts during the off season.
“They’re going to have to step it up a little bit,” she said. “I was really looking for leadership to pop out at me this season and no one really wanted to take that role.”
The coach acknowledged the squad’s series of losses. “It was a difficult year because we did have a few situations … I mean, we beat Jenkins and they are probably one of the better teams in the area,” Eichholz said. “I just needed somebody to step up and really take control and nobody really did.”
But the girls say they still have a little bit of fight left in them.
“Be strong and don’t give up when things get rough,” Poole told her teammates at the senior game ceremony. “Don’t give in. Keep pushing, because even though you lose, you lose, you lose, there is a chance that you might win. You still play for the one chance that you might win. This has been one of the best senior years. Everything has been going well and our volleyball team has been really good this year.”
 Catherine Scaggs thinks passing has to be a priority. “What we’ve been trying to work on is our passing because we have hitters, but we are having difficulty getting it to our setters,” she said.
The Liberty girls are in fifth place, Eichholz said.
“It’s a much more difficult game than I ever imagined it would be,” the coach said of her first season as the volleyball coach. “It is very intricate and there are a lot of skills and a lot of things you need to know.”
Eichholz said she learned valuable lessons she’ll use next season to help the team earn more wins and a better region standing.
The Courier will publish playoff information should the Lady Panthers earn a bid.

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