The Lady Pioneers started back on the court Saturday at a play day at Coffee County. The WCHS volleyball team played three varsity teams, including perennial powerhouse Coffee County, and the Lady Pioneers soared above the rest defeating the Lady Raiders 25-11, 25-19.

“It’s always something that you wonder about at the beginning of a season is whether the rotations and the team is going to work well together,” said WCHS coach Erin Blalock. “So this being the first day we’ve been able to get out and play against other teams, they’re showing that they’re playing well together.” 

The Lady Pioneer varsity team won every match they played on Saturday. The Lady Pioneers also beat Fayetteville and Community. In the Coffee County game alone Jessie Young and Kennedi Pegg had 7 and 8 assists, respectively.

Pegg continued with the assists making 3 against Fayetteville and 6 against Community. Senior Ally Beneke joins as a co-op player from DeKalb Co., and as a state-winning high jumper, it’s no shock she led the team in kills on Saturday with 19 across all three matches.

There are five seniors, Beneke, Young, Mia Hobbs, Lydia Netherton and Marissa O’Hara. Blalock is excited with how they have been playing with the younger athletes. 

Warren County started the play day against Fayetteville and won 25-16 in the first match, and 25-17 in the second. They went on to beat Community 25-13, 25-20.

“Overall, it was a really good day to get this preseason work started,” said Blalock, “and get on the court against other teams for the first time.” 

Warren County travels to Gatlinburg on Saturday for another play day before the Lady Pioneers start their season in Grundy County on Aug. 15.

“They played with a lot of energy and really good teamwork,” Blalock continued, “I think we’ve got a great foundation to build on as we move closer to the season opener.”