Even with losing eight seniors from their 2019 volleyball roster, the Hopkinsville Lady Tigers appear to be among the teams to watch during the 2020 volleyball season, which gets underway next week. In fact, as the season approaches, area volleyball coaches ranked the Lady Tigers tied for 3rd in the 2nd Region in the preseason volleyball poll.
For the Lady Tigers to contend and have a shot at making a postseason run, they will have some holes to fill due to graduation losses. Gone from the 2019 roster are Chandler Adams, Kathy DuBois, Marley Hancock, Shelby Isenhoff, Hope Pace, Savannah Peck, Taiya Straight, and Maritza Uribe. Those eight will leave some big shoes to fill.
Pace led the team in kills and blocks in 2019. Peck was the team leader in assists. Adams was tops in digs and service aces.
However, Coach Jessica Shepherd does have a solid trio of returners with which to begin the reloading.
Senior Alyssa Bearns figures to be the team’s vocal leader during the 2020 season. She was second on the team in kills last season, and is one who can elevate at the net, looking to end the point. Bearns finished 3rd on the team in digs, and 2nd in service aces.
Junior Hailey Hallmark battled some injury issues in 2019, and will be counted upon to be among the team leaders for the 2020 season. A healthy Hallmark will give Hopkinsville a strong 1-2 combination at the net.
Senior Lauren Watkins also figures to be a big part of the attack for the Lady Tigers in 2020. Watkins was second on the team in digs last season, and figures to be a strong candidate to fill the role vacated by the graduation of Chandler Adams.
One of the big keys for Hopkinsville could be finding a consistent setter to tee things up for Bearns and Hallmark. Savannah Peck and Marley Hancock were 1-2 in assists last season, resulting in a big opening in that part of the game for the Lady Tigers.
Senior Lupita Vieyra, junior Aloria Moyd, and junior Denija Rogers are among players expected to make significant contributions for the Lady Tigers this season.
Hopkinsville finished 2019 with a record of 12-17. The Lady Tigers are set to open the season Tuesday night on the road at University Heights for an early season district battle.
Coach Shepherd recently spoke with YourSportsEdge.Com about getting the 2020 season up and started:
