By Mark Rico
Focus Sports Editor
Conway – Sports teams in Arkansas will be counting themselves lucky to be suiting up in each of their respective sports in 2020.
Given the uncertainty of the 2020-21 school year due to COVID-19, coaches and players weren’t sure if a volleyball season would even happen this year.
Things were touch-and-go for a while, but on July 31 Governor Asa Hutchison announced a series of new safety protocols and several starting dates for the season.
Now that fall sports are now a go for the time being, it has yielded a different set of circumstances and forced changes in preparation for high school volleyball coaches like St. Joseph’s Athletic Director and Head Volleyball Coach Luke Davis.
“To sum it up in one word I would have to say – different.” Davis said. “We lost our spring training and early summer workouts that are huge for our younger players. We were finally able to start practicing in mid-July but to was very difficult to practice staying twelve feet apart as the guidelines stated. We had modify a lot of our drills and really focus on player safety and spacing.”
For a team that lost three key seniors to graduation including All-State selections Emily Briggler and Abbie Flake along with All-Conference pick Gracie Keathley, each missed day was a missed opportunity to gain experience on what will be a young Bulldog squad.
“This year we are a young team but I feel as though we have lots of potential.” said Davis. “My two seniors have a lot of experience and I am expecting them to lead my sophomores that we will be relying on a lot.”St. Joseph’s finished second in their conference in 2019, finishing 8-2 during the regular season.
After an early loss in the opening round of the district tournament to Conway Christian, the Bulldogs defeated Ridgefield Christian and Cotter in straight sets during state tournament play before bowing out to eventual state champion Hackett in the semi-finals in four sets.
“We made a run in the semi-finals of state for the second year in a row and lost to the team that went on to win it all.” said Davis. “Not knowing if we are going to be able to play the whole season means that every game will be a key game. We have some new conference teams this year so it will be interesting to see how it plays out.”
The Central 2-A conference now features Abundant Life, Cutter Morning-Star, Lisa Academy North, Maumelle Charter and Quest Academy of Little Rock and St. Joseph’s.
“We are just focusing on taking advantage of every day.” Davis said. “We are using the mentality that we might not play tommorrow so every day is like a tournament.”
The Bulldogs open the season Wednesday, August 26 at Episcopal.
TEAM AT A GLANCE:
ST. JOSEPH BULLDOGS
Head Coach: Luke Davis
Last Year’s Record: (22-8-1, 8-2 Conference 2A)
Last Year’s Finish: Lost in State Semi-Finals to Hackett (3-1)
Key Departures: Emily Brigger (All-State), Abbie Flake (All-State), Gracie Keathley (All-Conference):
Key Returning Players: Savannah Mooney (Libero, Sr.), Amy Lambe (Outside Hitter, Sr.), Maggie Mooney (Setter, Jr.), Chloe Skinner (Setter/OH, Soph.), Olivia Williams (Middle Hitter, Soph.)
TUESDAY: MAYFLOWER LADY EAGLES
Faulkner County Focus Sports 