By News Staff on Thu, 08/02/2018 - 00:00

    A focus on defense will give the Rockdale High School Lady Tigers volleyball team an upper hand in District 19-3A play this fall. The team will start two-a-days Wednesday morning at 8-10 a.m. and noon-3 p.m. at RHS gym in preparation for the upcoming season.

    “Our goal this year is too make it a couple of rounds deep in the playoffs,” said Jennifer Keen, who is beginning her seventh year as head coach. “We have a very strong district, and we’ll have to improve defensively in order to reach that goal.”

    The Lady Tigers, who ended the 2017 with a 18-17 record, are competing in an eight-member school district that Keen said has multiple teams with skilled defensive and offensive players who guard the back lines well and play the net aggressively.

    Last year’s district standings had Rogers on top, followed by Litter River-Academy, Rockdale and Lexington.

    “Lexington is very tough defensively,” said Keen, “Little-River Academy has a very good front line that will have to be prepared for in order to be successful.”

    The district also includes Troy High School, who defeated the Lady Tigers in three sets in last year’s Region III bi-district playoffs in Georgetown, as well as area qualifiers Rogers High School, Cameron Yoe High School and McGregor High School. Their district also includes Franklin High School, who will host Rockdale in its first district match on Friday, Sept.7.

    The Lady Tigers lost three seniors to graduation. Seven members from last year’s playoff team will be returning to the court. The list of experienced players includes five seniors: Lindsey Kolar, Eve King, Kylie Eubanks, Stephanie Pantaleon, and Kaylee Criswell, and two juniors: Brandi Caffey, and Reese Weise.

    Practice schedule: Aug. 1-3, 8 a.m.-10 a.m. and 12-noon-3 p.m., practice with weights; Aug. 4, time and team TBA, scrimmage at RHS; Aug. 6, 9 a.m.-noon, practice; Aug. 7, 5 p.m., game at Milano; Aug. 8, 3:45 p.m., pictures and 4-6 p.m., practice; Aug. 9-11, time TBA, var. tournament at Florence; Aug. 9-11, 3:45-5:45 p.m., JV & freshman practice; Aug. 13, 4-6:30 p.m., practice and 6:30 p.m., Meet the Tigers (HS gym); Aug. 14, 5 p.m., game at Thrall; Aug. 15, 4-6:30 p.m., practice; Aug. 16-18, time TBA, var. tournament at Cedar Creek; Aug. 16-17, 4-6 p.m., JV and freshman practice; Aug. 18, time TBA, JV/F tournament at Rock-dale.