LAUREL HILL — Things will be a bit tougher this year for Laurel Hill School’s volleyball team.
After winning back-to-back district championships in the old District 1-A, the Hoboes will be joined by perennial power Baker, which has won 12 straight district titles, along with Jay, Northview and Central in the new District 1-1A.
In what has become a recurring cycle at Laurel Hill, the Hoboes have a roster of juniors and freshmen, but no seniors or sophomores.
Three seniors — Bridget Zessin, Morgan Meeks and Ashley Hatfield — graduated last year.
Six juniors will be looked to for leadership if Laurel Hill hopes to battle Baker for district titles.
“I like this junior class,” Coach Kent Zessin said. “I really do. I like the way they stick. “I would prefer eight of them out there, but six is fine.
Lauren Mitchell, Kaylyn McLaney, Olivia Stewart, Bailey Stokes, Rachel Welsh and Kaylee L’Homme are the returning juniors.
Zessin was expecting to have Grace Reese and Cynthia Mason. Mason moved and Reese is working. The veteran coach isn’t about to dwell on who he doesn’t have as he tries to get the team ready for the season.
“We are going to be a team that gets better every day,” he said. “They have a mindset of setting team goals and individual goals. I feel like they are going to be a totally different team, come October.
“They are going to get stronger. A lot of that comes from learning when we play a pretty good schedule. We are playing a couple of bigger schools, but of course the district is tough enough.”
The bigger schools are West Florida Tech and Pensacola High. Both matches will be played Sept. 12 at West Florida.
Although Jay, Northview and Baker weren’t in Laurel Hill’s district last year, the Hoboes played all three schools. They beat Northview and Jay, but couldn’t get past the Gators.
“I’m really pleased where we are now early in the season,” Zessin said. “I’m not satisfied, but I’m pleased. I pleased with the system that was established last year and the year before.
“The juniors, and even some of these freshmen, know what to do. That’s part of the teaching that has to be stressed as greatly. You can then focus on the skill levels, getting stronger and doing things more proficiently.”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill faces bigger schools in new District 1-1A