The Lady Dogs volleyball team has worked toward a successful season.   
    “We are doing well so far,” head volleyball coach Tena Niven said.  “To continue to reach our goal, we need to get better.”
    The volleyball team consists of seniors Mallory Anderson, Alisha Glover, Keshantis King, Maryann Lee and Kathryn Ray; juniors BrittanyAnderson, Megan Draper, Sarah Hyde, Josy Martires, Francesca Luca and Sabrina Neighbors; and sophomores McKenna Anderson, Elizabeth Frederick and Kerrington Maddox.
    The first match of the season was a double header against the Jemison Panthers and the West Blocton Tigers Thursday, Aug. 18. First to face the Lady Dogs were the Lady Panthers.  The Lady Dogs crushed them in two games 25-12 and 25-8. The leaders of the match were Ma. Anderson with 5 kills and 6 digs, Ray with 10 assists, and Mc. Anderson and Hyde both with 4 aces. The team then took on the Lady Tigers and also defeated them in two games 25-12 and 25-11. The leaders of this match were Ma. Anderson with 8 kills and 9 digs, Ray with 8 assists and Lee had 9 digs.
    “We have a strong bond and we are like a family,” Hyde said.  “I expect our team to go far this year and do well.  You only have a team with this much chemistry once in a lifetime.”
    The volleyball team’s next opponent was the Thorsby Rebels Monday, Aug. 22. The Lady Dogs overcame the Rebels in three games with the scores 25-10, 27- 25 and 25-10.  The leading players of this match were Ray with 7 kills and 9 assists, Ma. Anderson with 21 digs and Hyde with 8 aces.
    The following night the Lady Dogs played Shelby County at Shelby County.  The ladies won the first game 25-19, lost the next two games 14-25 and 23-25, but came back to win the match with wins in the last two games 25-16 and 15-5. The leaders of this match were Ma. Anderson with 25 kills and 30 digs, Ray with 27 assists, Lee with 26 digs and 1.5 blocks and Hyde with 21 digs and 1.5 blocks.
    “We are constantly working to become more consistent and improve in everything that we do,” Ray said.  “We have a lot of talent so we’re trying to have everyone shine in their aspect of the game; this builds a really good, dynamic team.”
    Thursday, Aug. 25 Montevallo hosted Indian Springs for Think Pink Cancer Awareness Night.  The ladies lost the first game 23-25, but came back and defeated Indian Springs in the next three games 25-6, 25-17 and 25-17.  In this match the lead players were Ma. Anderson with 22 kills, Ray with 25 assists, Mc. Anderson with 9 aces and 19 digs and Hyde with 2 blocks.
    “It wasn’t our easiest game so far,” Ma. Anderson said.  “We didn’t give up even after we lost the first game.”
    The Lady Dogs had their first area game Tuesday, Aug. 30 against Hale County. The ladies dominated in three games 25-14, 25-15 and 25-13.  Ma. Anderson had 13 kills and 11 digs, Ray had 16 assists, Hyde had 12 digs and 5 aces and Lee and Mc. Anderson each had 5 aces.
    In addition to Niven, coaches include assistants  Nan Franks, Ronnie Holsombeck and Tim Ray.