The Hopkinsville High School volleyball team is looking to improve on last year’s season, which ended at 7-23 and a first round loss to Fort Campbell in the District 8 tournament.
Laykin Peek, a former Caldwell County High School star, begins her third season at the helm of the Lady Tigers and says her team is still young, but she is confident they are headed in the right direction.
“We’re starting to get a culture built up and starting to get in the groove of things,” Peek said. “They’ve improved tremendously. Some of them started out not knowing what a volleyball is. We’re getting better but we still have a long way to go.”
Leading the way this season for Hoptown are sophomores Kyleigh Weber and Madysen Tabbart along with seniors Rebekah Payne, Danaja Wheeler, and Maliah Miller.
“Kyleigh has made some tremendous improvements playing with Vapor over the summer and we are looking at her at setter or defensive specialist,” Peek said. “Madysen also played travel ball over the summer and has really improved her hitting. And our seniors will be counted on for leadership this season.”
Peek said she feels like the district is more balanced this year with Christian County and Heritage Christian Academy holding a slight advantage. However, she likes her team’s grit and attitude.
“I feel like we all have our struggles, but they never give up,” Peek said. “They have committed to the sport. They always find a way to make things happen. Obviously, we are kind of at the bottom of the totem pole, but we never give up.”
During the offseason, Peek pointed to the leadership of Wheeler and sophomore Saralynn Major and hopes they will continue that leadership as the season goes.
“Danaja has been a really good leader and Saralynn has been a really good leader and we’re looking for her to make a big impact on varsity this year,” Peek said.
Defensively, Peek said she is counting on the play of Weber, junior Brooke Stewart, and Wheeler.
Offensively, the Lady Tigers are going to be small but mighty, according to Peek.
“Our height isn’t quite there, but what we do, we’re trying to make do with,” she said. “We also have some smaller girls who have some really high verticals so people will be surprised.”
Hopkinsville will start out the season Aug. 20 at Madisonville-North Hopkin, before opening District 8 play Aug. 22 at defending District 8 and Region 2 champion, University Heights Academy.