The Bearden volleyball team has begun their 2024 season, and they’re looking forward to one of their biggest matches of the season.
The Lady Bulldogs will play Hardin Valley on Thursday at 6 p.m., looking to avenge a heartbreaking loss a year ago. Last season, HVA edged Bearden in the fifth and final set by two points.
“Going into this season everyone, including ourselves, had this feeling like underdogs,” senior Brooke Dawson said. “We have something to prove this year.”
After losing a large senior class last year, the team has turned their eyes to new leadership. Dawson and fellow senior Makiyah Greenlee, along with junior Sophie Reichert, have taken the positions as team captains for the season.
“Losing our senior class put a lot of pressure on the seniors to still show up and win,” Dawson said. “It pushed our team to work harder.”
Greenlee has also taken note of the hard work.
“We’re executing faster than I expected because we did see ourselves as underdogs,” Greenlee said.
They have spent many months bonding and preparing for the season in order to take on this season as a team. Additionally, they have built strong relationships with one another on and off the court.
“We connect so well when we’re all enjoying what we’re doing,” Greenlee said. “I think that will lead us to winning.”
In addition to being a big rivalry match, HVA’s visit on Thursday will also have significant implications on the district standings. This will be both teams’ first league match of the season, and both should compete for places at or near the top of the district.