CALEDONIA — Peyton Enger and Lizzie Truelock agree: The group of girls on the 2018 Caledonia High School volleyball team is “amazing.”
You would expect two of the team leaders to have that confidence in their teammates, but the comments made by Enger and Truelock just go to show how hard the Lady Confederates are working to set the right tone for what they hope will be another successful season.
“In the past, we have been a team that really hasn’t been constructive,” Truelock said. “But in this group everybody helps everybody and everybody loves everybody. I guess that helps us get to where we want to be.”
Like nearly every other team in the state, Caledonia has its sights set on a state championship. Last season, Caledonia finished second to Lafayette in district play by the difference of points in a set. A 3-0 loss to New Albany in the first round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class III playoffs ended the season at 25-11.
The 2018 campaign already has started quickly. Earlier this month, Caledonia earned a team title at the Bob Bertucci Volleyball Camp at Tupelo High. Earlier this week, Caledonia won a four-team tournament at the Mississippi University for Women’s volleyball camp.
Also, Maddy Suggs received the Coach’s Award at the Bertucci Camp for the second-consecutive season.
The accomplishments lead coach Samantha Brooks, who is in her 12th season, to believe this year’s team can realize its lofty goals.
“As a group, they are experienced and they have a strong knowledge base,” said Brooks, who has coached the varsity, junior varsity, and middle school teams. “Not only that, but we also have eight juniors. They play other sports together. They know each other. They react well in different situations with each other.”
Brooks said Stephanie Herring, who played volleyball and softball at Caledonia High, will coach the Caledonia Middle School volleyball team this season.
Brooks will look to Suggs and Tori Brooks, her daughter, as two key pieces. She said Kennedy Lambert, who has plenty of travel ball experience, figures to be another important contributor with Camryn Johnson and Ansley Brown, who also have club experience.
“I told them I have high expectations and we worked really hard this summer in our conditioning, but I told them I am pushing them every single point,” Brooks said. “Not to get their feelings hurt, I am going to push them to their max, which is basically what I said.”
Brooks said she offered several “non-negotiables” for the players, like missing a serve, not moving your feet, not talking, or not getting in the net will face consequences in the next practice.
Those expectations don’t surprise Truelock and Enger, who agree the length of time many of the Caledonia players have been together gives everyone confidence this can be a special season. The Lady Confederates know they don’t have a lot of height, but a lack of size never has prevented Caledonia from being a scrappy team that keeps balls off the floor and fights for every point.
Enger said everyone has grown closer together and acts like sisters, which she and Truelock feel will provide the motivation for the team to stay upbeat and positive through errors and mistakes.
“We all have each other’s backs,” Enger said.
Truelock also said everyone knows the expectations Brooks has for the program. She said that makes it easier for players — even younger ones — to step into roles vacated by graduation losses and to help the team reload rather than rebuild.
“We all have high expectations. We all know what to expect from each other,” Truelock said. “We can’t let coach Brooks down. We can’t let anyone down, so we know what we have to do.”
Caledonia will kick off its season Saturday, Aug. 4, at Pontotoc High. It will play host to Starkville at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, in its home opener.
“They have been getting the reps and putting in the work, so I feel like big things are in store for our team on account of that,” Brooks said.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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