W.S. Neal volleyball season is just around the corner and major changes have come to the Eagles this season.
Under new head coach William West, the Neal team is looking for another repeat of last season with one different aspect, a state tournament win.
Last season the Eagles won the area title but fell short in the first round of the state tournament.
This season, the Eagles have changed to an area one classification.
With that new classification, comes all new challenges, including a tougher lineup.
“This year we have moved up to a 1A team. We will face challenges this season from other teams such as, the defending state champions in 3A since 2002, Bayside Academy, UMS Wright, and Williamson. We have to step up to the challenges and my goal is to see this team beat Miller and win state,” West said.
With the changes of three different coaches in three years, West is up to the task of taking the reins of the Neal team.
“The girls are going to be put through some different drills and regime that they are not normally accustomed to. They have to get used to the way I coach and teach the game. I have coached at every level except professional. I’m going to be asking them to do things that they have never done before, but that is how the game is played to get to a national level,” West said.
The W.S. Neal team will be on the radar playing against new teams but they have some key leaders that will be able to help take the team to the level that they need on to be successful.
“We have a very young team with four seniors and we have two key players to help push the team and lead it. The Askew twins will be one key for us. Alia Askew (setter) and Alyssa Askew (middle blocker) are great players and will help lead the team along with some strong sophomores,” West said.
Neal opens the season on Aug. 23 at Bayside Academy at 5 p.m.