Eight Return For Eaglette Volleyball Team In 2009

Canton High School’s volleyball program made great strides last year, getting its first district victories ever and its first placement in a tournament.

Now, second-year coach Sabrina Haggerty is depending on a group of eight returning players to take the team to the proverbial next level.

Seniors Taylér Heitman and Jessie Allen, and juniors Carlie Sullivan, Kaysie Hatley and Zehra Bhimani, and sophomores Brittany Arnold and Emily Owens are all back as the Eaglettes try to mount a challenge for a playoff spot.

"We’ve got the talent," Haggerty said between scrimmage matches at Grand Saline High School on Friday afternoon.

"You can see the difference this year in two-a-days. We are working on more advanced stuff instead of spending all our time working on basic skills," she noted.

Haggerty said the players’ movement on the court has been the emphasis of early workouts.

"We have to continue to work on covering our areas and we have been working hard on blocking," she said.

The Eaglettes opened their season Tuesday with a dual against Wolfe City and Anna at Wolfe City. They play in the Van Varsity Tournament on Friday and Saturday, go to Cayuga on Monday and play another dual at Grand Saline against the Lady Indians and Chisum on Tuesday.

The first home match is not until Sept. 4 against Quinlan Ford.

Haggerty said she believed traditional volleyball powers Wills Point and Van will once again battle for top district honors, but added that Eustace looks to be in the mix this time around.