Hampton High launches school’s first volleyball program
Published 8:10 am Tuesday, August 9, 2022
- Contributed Photo Hampton High School's new volleyball team at a volleyball skills camp hosted by King College Volleyball coach at Hampton Elementary School.
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BY ALLEN LAMOUNTAIN
STAR CORRESPONDENT
Hampton girls will have another sport to compete in as the Lady Bulldogs will begin a volleyball program in 2022. Head coach Megan McCoy and assistant coach Mary Peek will have a roster with some previous experience and a few basketball players in the mix as well.
“Our athletic director Dwayne Humphrey approached me at the end of last year and asked if I would be interested in coaching because we want to build a team,” McCoy said. “I have a few girls with experience and they are Chloe Clark, Clare Clark and Gracelyn Burkett who came here from EHS.”
Burkett and fellow senior Madison McClain will be captains and the Clark girls played travel ball and middle school. Chloe – a junior – is recovering from a shoulder injury and is not cleared to play yet and Clare is a freshman with solid striking skills.
“I played for JCVC (Johnson City Volleyball Club) for a year and I played home school for two years, so this is my third year. I am really excited about this opportunity and I think we have a lot of potential.”
The Lady ‘Dogs will have top conference competition in North Greene, South Greene, Hancock County and Happy Valley.
“We are mostly freshmen and sophomores but it is a great group of girls,” McCoy said. “We open on August 15 against Elizabethton and we have some tough games in conference with North Greene, South Greene and Happy Valley as well as Hancock.”
The starting six will consist of Abigail Kelly at center, Mackenzie Thompson, Mallory Lamb, Clark will be the middle striker, with Burkett and McClain rounding out the starters. When she is cleared to play Chloe Clark will also be in the starting mix.
When asked about her volleyball experience, McClain said, “I haven’t ever played volleyball before but it’s an honor to be captain. I’m not going to be able to give much to girls who have played before but I will try to keep everyone’s spirits up.”
The second captain – Burkett – has had some experience playing in the Lady Cyclones program under Leslee Bradley and she said, “A young program will struggle for a while and I think it will be my job as captain to not let everyone’s head get down if we lose. Right now everyone is having a good time trying to learn the game.”
