By the nature of progression, the Lady Greyhounds are expecting another leap forward this season in the program’s third year.
The Volley Hounds, who got their first match win as a program last year, are aiming to exceed that measure this season. While that would logically be the first region win in program history, JCHS head coach Lonnie Wheeler sees the Volley Hounds aiming for more.
“I’m hoping for more than just one region win,” Wheeler said. “I would like to go into the region tournament and be in position to make the playoffs. The top four get to the state tournament, so there’s definitely an opportunity there.”
The Volley Hounds will have a great opportunity to build early-season momentum with seven scheduled non-region matches before region play begins Sept. 6 when Jones County hosts Eagles Landing and Warner Robins. Jones County opens the regular season Aug. 9 at Putnam County with the home opener Aug. 16 against Northside.
Jones County’s region lost Woodland and Stockbridge last season due to GHSA reclassification but added Warner Robins.
“We’re hoping for more of a .500 season and to be competitive in the region we’re in,” Wheeler said. “Lots of schools have new coaches. We hope to have an opportunity to get a win or two.”
The Volley Hounds will have more of one aspect this season than they ever have had. That would be experience. The Lady Hounds junior class will be in its third year of playing as a group of starters. That means that in a sport that some of them have been playing for that same amount time, there’s more an of IQ of having played the game than ever before.
“There’s more of an idea of knowing where to be and what to do,” Wheeler said. “Nobody is what you might call a veteran, but I do have girls playing for the third year.”
Jones County – which lost two seniors from last year’s team – has four this season. All of them will be expected to lead the way – Paige Pieterick, Jade Hipps, Tori Land and Madison Maxwell.
Land, who plays the libero position for the Lady Hounds, was last year’s team MVP.
“She makes a big difference,” Wheeler said. “Just her presence on the back row is big.”
Wheeler also points to junior Nya Warren as helping to bolster things in the middle.
“She should be productive in the middle for us, attacking and blocking,” Wheeler said.
2022 JCHS VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
Aug. 9 at Putnam County, TBA
Aug. 11 vs. Lamar County and Howard, at Lamar County, TBA
Aug. 16 vs. Northside, 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 18 at McDonough, TBA
Aug. 23 at Northside, TBA
Aug. 25 vs. Lamar County and Jackson, TBA
Aug. 30 vs. Mary Persons, 5 p.m.
Sept. 6 vs. Eagles Landing and Warner Robins, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 8 vs. Tattnall Square and Upson Lee, at Tattnall Square 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 13 vs. Union Grove and Locust Grove, at Locust Grove, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 15 vs. Stratford and Jackson, at Stratford, TBA
Sept. 20 at Ace Charter, TBA
Sept. 22 vs. Rutland, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 27 vs. Ola and Dutchtown, at Warner Robins, TBA
Sept. 29 at Mary Persons, TBA
Oct. 4 vs. Tattnall Square, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 6 vs. Peach County, 5:30 p.m.
