Fresh off a fifth straight state playoff run in 2019, the Tallulah Falls School varsity volleyball program nears the beginning of a 2020 season that is sure to be a great one.
Matt Heyl enters his third year over the varsity program and coached the team to a record 31 wins in 2018 and 22 last season. The 2018 team finished as runner-up in the area and made its first-ever Sweet 16 appearance. The 2019 Lady Indians were again runner-up in the area, and fell in the opening round of the state tournament.
The drop in win total from 2018 to 2019 had nothing to do with lack of talent or desire.
“We went for a more difficult strength of schedule rating last year and finished just above .500 with a 22-20 record,” says Heyl. “We lost in the first round to North Cobb Christian in three very close sets.”
Looking ahead to 2020, there are a couple of big holes for the team to fill.
“We lost our record-breaking setter Kate Blackburn,” adds Heyl. “She broke every setting record set and our aces record. We also lost one of our go-to outside hitters Lillie Free.”
Without those two on the court, the Lady Indians will have to have some other players step up.
The team will rely even more on senior Katy Corbett, who returns after a sensational junior year that saw her win BLITZ Player of the Year.
“She will have a lot on her shoulders hitting outside,” says Heyl. “Teams are expecting her, so it will be tough.”
TFS also returns Rebekah Jennings, who led the team in serve/receive rating last year. Senior Abby Carlan will be called on to receive more sets than ever before as well. After a fantastic freshman year by Sarah Jennings, Heyl hopes that she has a big impact passing and hitting outside opposite Corbett. Rising freshman Addy McCoy should also see some pretty good playing time, and Heyl expects her to improve throughout the year.
Heyl points to his senior leadership and ability to block as the strengths of the team in 2020. Areas of focus include determining whether a one- or two-setter system will be used, and the development of hitters all around.
The Lady Indians open the 2020 slate at North Forsyth on August 11 in a tri-match with North Forsyth, Flowery Branch, and Lumpkin County. The first home match is scheduled for Thursday, August 20 against Jefferson and Cherokee Bluff.
The JV volleyball team is more than ready to open the 2020 season. Despite having lost some key players from last season and ending with an overall record of 9-29, head coach Matt Crotta anticipates that the team will have a much more successful season this time around.
“Watch out for a new and improved JV squad running a new offense this year,” exclaims coach Crotta. “We not only hope but also expect to be one of the top teams in our division this season.”
The JV team will be without the leadership of Hannah Hunt, who returned to Stephens County for this upcoming year. The team will also miss Andrea Caudell and Emma Barrett, who were also key pieces that moved on from pursuing volleyball. Those vacancies are open opportunities for newcomers to fill holes in the hitting and setting positions.
Returning starters from last year, Chloe Kahwach and Layne Kafsky, will certainly provide great leadership on the court. Crotta also indicates that the interest in the program is better than ever before.
“We have seen more girls coming out for the team than ever, offering an abundance of new talent and athleticism,” says Crotta, who points to one individual in particular who can make a huge impact.
“We expect great things from freshman Julianne Shirley, who can contribute to the team in nearly any position. We anticipate improved serving and hitting from a more diverse team this season. The team will have to adjust to a 6-2 offense in order to make the most of the talent from the many girls rising up and joining us from eighth grade.”
The new-look JV team is set to open the season on August 15 at Parkview.
The TFS middle school volleyball teams are close to opening the 2020 season. The A-Team went 5-6 last season, which marked one of the better years in quite a while. The B-Team was 4-8 overall in 2019.
“Last season, our middle school team really stepped up and showed mental toughness,” says head coach Whitney LaHayne. “We ended the season with more wins than in previous seasons, and finished fourth in our area, which is a major accomplishment.”
The program loses a number of the A-Team members who were eighth graders now at the Upper School.
The players returning to lead the team in 2020 include Chesney Tanksley, Mia Hamon, and Caroline Smith. That trio will anchor the A-Team, along with some standouts on the B-Team last year in Karagan Branson, Rebecca Heyl, Emma Barron, and Julia Smith.
The girls will get an outside boost from the arrival of out-of-state newcomer Gemma Ferris.
“Gemma is coming to us from Kentucky and I could not be more excited about the potential (height and strength) she will be bringing to our team,” exclaims LaHayne.
LaHayne lays out what the A-Team has in store for this season.
“Our A-Team will be stronger this year since this group of girls has been working together since last season,” says LaHayne. “We are all more familiar with one another; from our teammates to Coach Hannah Satterfield and myself. I have high expectations for this group of girls.”
LaHayne also previews the B-Team.
“Our B-Team this year is very young consisting of predominately sixth graders,” says LaHayne. “We have a long way to go, but we have a great group from the looks of things after tryouts.”
Overall, the teams are excited to open a new year.
“We all are anxiously awaiting our season and cannot wait to get started training,” adds LaHayne. “Earlier in the year brought forth much uncertainty and hurt us in not being able to train together. The girls worked out at home and strength trained at school when allowed. I am hoping our team this year will prove to be a much more athletically inclined team when compared to past seasons. Coach Satterfield and I pray everyone stays safe and healthy so we can grow as a whole.”
The middle school teams open the season officially on August 22 in a pre-season tournament at Banks County. The first home match is scheduled for August 24 against Franklin County.
