Sand Mountain Reporter

The Guntersville varsity volleyball team won a school-record 64 matches in 2008, finishing with a 64-8 record and as the Class 4A state tournament runner-up.

The Lady Wildcats have their sights set on returning to Pelham during the 2009 season, but this time they want to bring home the blue trophy.

Preseason practice begins Aug. 3, but the Guntersville players haven’t been spending their time relaxing, just counting down the days until they take the court.

“It has been a very busy summer,” said GHS coach Jimmy Latta.

“Our high school players helped instruct future Wildcat volleyball players in our little girls volleyball camp in early June.

“The girls worked really hard the entire month of June.

“We took about a week off at the end of school, and then we opened the gym four nights a week for skill development and conditioning.

“Attendance has been great. With the exception of a few vacationers and kids who were attending team camps in other sports, we’ve had 18 to 24 of our (24) kids at each voluntary workout.”

Latta said the GHS coaching staff made changes to the team’s skill development and conditioning program.

“Most days we split into a back row/defensive specialist session, and we end with our hitters and setters coming in for their session,” he said.

“In the middle, we’ve added a weightlifting/conditioning session. Some kids end up staying for all three.

“We’ve also added a jump training session one day each week in lieu of weights on that day. We are trying to increase our vertical and work on basic jumping technique.

“The girls seem to be responding really well. They leave tired each day, but I can see an improvement in each of the kids who have been coming almost every day.”

Latta said the Lady Wildcats are “really motivated,” from the freshman class to the senior class.

“There’s nothing like finishing second to motivate a kid. It has motivated me as well,” he said.

The Lady Wildcats graduated Bailey Kimbrough, Caroline Price, Emily Johnson and Beverly McDonald, all of whom played key roles for the 2008 squad.

Latta said this year’s roster features some players who have the potential to fill the voids created by graduation.

“The JV players on last year’s team saw one of their own (Meredith Moore) play 39 JV matches before moving up to varsity at the end of the season and starting in the state championship match,” he said.

“They are working hard also because they know there are spots to be had on both teams.”

The Lady Wildcats worked through Thursday before taking a one-week break for Independence Day vacations.

Following the break, all of Guntersville’s players in grades 7-12 will participate in the program’s Asics Munciana Individual Skills Camp directed by Mike Lingenfelter, a former University of Cincinnati head coach.

His 18-year-old club team won a national championship in June.

“We are fortunate to have the relationship we have with Mike, and I’ve learned a great deal from him over the past three years,” Latta said.

Two weeks after the skills camp, the varsity and junior varsity squads will attend team camp.

“We’ve gone to Middle Tennessee State the past few years with both squads,” he said.

“The JV will be returning to MTSU, but this year we wanted to do something a little different for the varsity to get the girls motivated even more.

“We will be traveling to Gainesville for the University of Florida Team Camp. Mary Wise is one of the most successful coaches in the country, winning the past 18 consecutive SEC championships.

“She’s also coached in two national championship matches, and I also thought this would be a great place to get some exposure for some of our kids who aspire to play beyond high school.

“There’s always a lot of coaches from around the country who fly in to work those camps.

“It should be an interesting trip, as several of the girls have never flown.”

The Lady Wildcats will return from Gainesville on July 27 and sponsor a play date on July 28 at GHS and Guntersville Middle School.

Briarwood Christian, Brooks, Boaz, Ashville, New Hope, Geraldine and Southside will bring both varsity and JV teams.

Junior varsity squads from Decatur Heritage Christian Academy, Crossville and Huntsville will also participate.

“After the play date, I told the girls to get out of town and rest for a week and get ready for fall practice on August third,” Latta said.

“These kids are working really hard, and I’ve been pleased with the turnout we’ve had at every workout.

“It’s good to see kids get excited about working on skills. Some of them are hard to run out of the gym.”

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