As the school year has started up, so has the Herrin Tiger Volleyball Team. Led by head coach Gabby Stieg and assistant coaches Tara Tanner, Ashton Hawk, and Whitney Houseworth, this team is no doubt ready for this season to be one of their best.

With the girls having kick-started the season off on Thursday, August 24th 2023, taking on the Silver Stallions and winning, they have begun the season with a strong lead of 11-3, which coach Stieg says “is already starting a lot better than last year.”

The team has a lot of perseverance and they really show their willingness to put up a fight. Even if they don’t win the first set, they’ll pull through and win the next two. Communication is a big part of volleyball, and the girls have to “risk it to get the biscuit,” says Coach Stieg, in order to have the motivation and the strength to last throughout the whole game.

One of their main goals is being able to have some conference wins and to keep the title of regional champions. Shaniya Johnson (9) agreed that winning isn’t all this team is about, but they also “just want to just spend time with and get to know everyone.”

There is a lot of hope for this season and this new lineup of girls, and the excitement is in the air. The student section tends to be a blast when it comes to showing up and supporting our girls. Johnson stated that it helps get them even more motivated and really “gets the blood pumping” when the crowd has some energy to it.

The coaches have done a phenomenal job with training the girls and helping them have fun with the sport, and it shows in their hard work and dedication.