CORBIN — Krystal Jones’ Corbin Lady Redhounds volleyball squad might be young in terms of age, but when it comes to experience, they’ve got tons.
Jones’ Lady Redhounds return a cupboard full of young talent that is ready to lead Corbin back on top of the 13th Region landscape.
Jones’ squad produced a 28-8 record last season along with a 13th Region-best .64604 RPI, but fell to Whitley County in the regional finals that has the Lady Redhound players hungry to take the next step.
“We have a lot of great talent returning this year with our defense, middles and hitters,” Jones said. “We have a very young team, with multiple freshmen and eighth graders in the rotation. However, age doesn’t mean they aren’t experienced. Each of them have been in high pressure environments and are ready to show up in a big way this season.
“We’re excited to return several players who made big contributions for us last season: Aden Nipper, Brooke Mills, Laura Newcomb, Annabelle Griffin, and Shelbi Carroll,” she added.
Jones gave her thoughts about each player:
• Aden Nipper brings experience to our back row and has shown she can be a solid defensive option.
• Brooke Mills is a strong blocker who continues to grow offensively. As one of our seniors, she brings experience to the floor.
• Laura Newcomb swings heavy and brings a lot of power to the net. She’s worked hard in the offseason and we expect even more from her this year.
• Annabelle Griffin is a smart, dependable middle. She sees the court well and makes good decisions at the net.
• Shelbi Carroll, in my opinion, is one of the best all-around players in the region. She competes at a high level, is strong on both offense and defense, and steps up in big moments. She’s just a natural competitor, and we’re excited to see what she does this season.
“We’ve also got several new faces who will be part of the rotation this year — players who have shown potential on both sides of the ball and will give us some great options moving forward,” she said.
Jones said she is excited and encouraged in what she has seen out of her team heading into the season.
“Each of them have been a sponge this preseason and are really eager to be the best,” she said. “I think that’s a strength every coach wants to see in their team. We have a ton of grit, despite our age.
“We always have the same concerns every year,” Jones added. “Will we play to our fullest potential? That’s our job, to make sure they never lose sight of how great they can be. As always, the 13th region will be a battle, so we know we have to be focused and prepared every single night.”
Another challenging schedule will prepare Jones’ squad for the rough and tough 50th District and postseason play.
“We believe iron sharpens iron,” Jones said. “We intentionally build a tough schedule because we want to be challenged. If we aren’t testing ourselves every night, we aren’t preparing ourselves for the postseason. Facing strong teams forces us to grow, adapt, and compete at a higher level. That’s exactly what we want for this group.
“Again, the 13th Region is the battle grounds,” she added. “We know that, but we also walk into every season with one goal, and that is to bring that Championship trophy home with us in October. Go Hounds.”
