By Stephen Henderson

Patrick County High School’s Lady Cougar volleyball team is selected and looking forward to the upcoming season.

“Right now we have 13 players on varsity,” Coach Heidi Moore said.

The team consists of six seniors, six juniors and one sophomore. “Two players have shoulder injuries and will try out at a later time,” she said.

The JV team is made up of two sophomores, eight freshmen and two eighth graders. There are a total of 12 players on the middle school squad.

“The varsity team is working extremely hard to prepare for the season,” Moore said. “The most impressive aspect of the team is their work ethic—they are coming to practice early and staying late to work on skills they are not satisfied with yet.”

The Lady Cougars worked on team building and a bonding experience Monday afternoon by going to Greensboro, N.C. to participate in an escape room scenario. In this situation, teammates work together in a physical adventure game where players solve a series of puzzles using clues, hints and strategies to complete the objective of escaping the enclosed room.

“We have matured, and we are looking forward to a great season together,” Moore said.

“I want the players to want to play well and to continue to improve throughout the season,” Moore explained. “We want to serve aggressively and pass well and the rest of the game will come to us,” she added.

A final hope for the players is continued competition after the regular season ends. “We would love to make it to regionals and extend our season,” Moore said.

The Lady Cougars scrimmage at Mount Airy, N.C., Thursday (tomorrow); they will scrimmage Auburn at home August 15. The first home game will be August 24 against Floyd.