NEW HOME LADY LEOPARDS VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW

The Varsity Lady Leopards (Steven Liles for Sideline Sports)

We talked about the New Home Lady Leopards a few weeks ago coming out of team camp but after seeing them again during their opening scrimmages this weekend one thing continues to stand out.

This team is getting better in a hurry.

Every time you see them they have grown by leaps and bounds. What Coach Kandi Stephens is building in New Home is absolutely phenomenal, especially when you consider how little volleyball experience this roster had when the process began.

Joey Zant leads the way as really the only varsity experienced volleyball player on the squad. She gives the Lady Leopards a player they can lean on while everyone around her continues to learn the game.

But if you watched them play today you would never guess how inexperienced this team actually is.

Presley Smith has developed into another legitimate outside hitter, giving the New Home offense another attacking option.

The Lady Leps celebrate a Kambry Burk block. (Steven Liles for Sideline Sports)

In the middle, the length of Kambry Burk and Lynlee Gandy gives New Home two legitimate middle blockers at the net. Both can cause absolute fits for opposing hitters and have the potential to become a major strength for this team.

Then there is freshman Haydyn Demel who has locked down the libero job and is already doing a great job anchoring the back side of the Lady Leopard defense.

One area where I think we are going to see tremendous improvement throughout the season is at the service line. As this group becomes more comfortable and confident we will see the number of service errors drop putting even more pressure on opponents.

Had you asked me coming out of spring league if New Home was a playoff team I probably would have told you no.

If you asked me today whether this version of the Lady Leopards would beat the Ropes Lady Eagles, I would still say no.

But that is what makes New Home so intriguing.

They are learning the game and developing as volleyball players so quickly that I am not sure what their ceiling is yet.

Keep that in mind as this season progresses because if the Lady Leopards continue improving at this rate, do not be shocked if we get to the end of the season and New Home is playing for a district championship.

The foundation is being built in The Jungle, and this could be a really fun team to watch grow.