Either as past teammates or even in other sports as Lady Greyhounds, multiple Volley Hounds have a strong degree of familiarity with one another.
Whether it’s players like Caroline Rickman and Isabella Bodnarchuk who also have played soccer together at JCHS or returning experiences in the likes of Grace Faircloth and Jayda Round, there’s plenty of time spent around one another when it comes to this year’s edition of Lady Greyhounds volleyball.
Now, Jones County is looking forward to building on not just that experience, but a strong summer of growth as the season begins after the graduation of five seniors.
The Lady Hounds host FPD and ACE Charter in a home tri-match this Thursday before the region opener Aug. 12 at Locust Grove with their next home match scheduled for Aug. 21 against Tattnall Square Academy.
“They’ve just become friends, they are playing better together and learning to trust each other and just have fun,” Lady Hounds head coach Leah Bodnarchuk said. “Several of them have played together before, and some others haven’t, so it’s almost half-inhalf. They’ve been working all summer and have been excited.”
Bodnarchuk was named head coach just prior to the summer beginning and saw first-hand the growing camaraderie throughout the Lady Hounds’ roster. It’s a quality she says that is one of the team’s strong points as it aims to improve on one aspect that reared its head a season ago - the closing stages of matches.
“For us, the main goal is to finish games. They felt like they didn’t communicate as well as they needed to last year,” Bodnarchuk said. “Now, the message is things like, ‘back row, your job is to set them up on the front row.’ It’s all been very exciting.”
That effort going into the season encompasses the serving power of Isabella Bodnarchuk and that of Round, who is primed to be one of the leaders of the JCHS front line.
“Isabella is very competitive, she has a very good knowledge of the game and can see things that others don’t, so it’s good to have her on the floor,” Bodnarchuk said. “Jayda plays strong and aggressive, she’s really getting in tune with and more confident in her serve.”
Bodnarchuk also points out the calm and uplifting demeanor of multiple players on the Volley Hounds’ roster, notably Grace Faircloth and Lexi Oliveros.
“Grace is a very graceful setter, she really has a calming presence. Lexi’s extremely positive, she always finds a way to uplift someone.”
Now, with a mix of new and old players, the Lady Hounds are off and running with goal of playing as one.
“As long as they trust each other and communicate, they can do good things,” Bodnarchuk said.
