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Top teams meet at annual area jamboree

Getting area high school volleyball teams ready for the upcoming season was the focus of the volleyball Jamboree held at Starr’s Mill High School last Saturday. Starr’s Mill High School Head Coach Dottie Licciardi and her coaching staff, along with the Starr’s Mill Spike-It Booster Club, were hosts for the annual event. Participants included high school varsity teams from Fayette County, McIntosh, Sandy Creek, East Coweta, Newnan, Decatur, Wesleyan, Landmark Christian and Lakeside. The schools represented a variety of athletic classifications, including 5A, 4A, 3A and AA/A. Teams played either three or four matches throughout the day. Players’ stamina was tested and coaches got a chance to see what their teams may do under the pressure of competition.

“This event is a good opportunity to find out what needs to be worked on,” said Paul Collins, Sandy Creek Head Coach. While Sandy Creek struggled against more experienced teams and ended the day with losses to Starr’s Mill, East Coweta and Lakeside, Collins said “I’m excited about our upcoming season. We lost four seniors, but we have two seniors returning and some great young players.”

Starr’s Mill won victories over Decatur (25-11, 25-15) Sandy Creek (25-19, 25-18) and Newnan (25-6, 25-16), but lost to a strong Wesleyan team (19-25, 19-25).

McIntosh beat Fayette County (25-8, 25-21), lost to state champion Landmark (19-25, 20-25), and beat East Coweta in three games (22-25, 25-16, 25-12).

Fayette County dropped matches to McIntosh, Wesleyan (8-25, 8-25), and Newnan (16-25, 20-25).

Barb Mason of Landmark Christian thought Licciardi did a great job putting together a top-notch group of teams for an event that each year must turn away requests for participation.

“This is great competition early in the season,” said Mason. “I’m looking forward to this year. I have a bunch of hard working athletes and we expect to improve during the season.” Landmark Christian defeated Decatur in an exciting three game match (16-25, 25-22, 25-23). They also won over McIntosh, Newnan (16-25, 25-21, 25-20) but lost to Wesleyan (15-25, 23-25).

Wesleyan proved their team a force to be reckoned with this season. Head coach Ted Russell was confident in his team’s abilities to compete this year.

“This is the first time we have attended this Jamboree,” said Russell. “We expect to be one of the top teams in A/AA this year. We have a sophomore setter and a freshman on varsity and this is a great chance to experiment when a win or loss isn’t on the line. There is some good competition here.”

Starr’s Mill will play in the Seqoyah tournament this weekend and will host McIntosh and Marietta next Tuesday at 5 p.m.