Southeast Whitfield High School’s outside hitter Megan Collins, left, and the team’s setter Hannah Graham are ready to lead their 2012/13 volleyball team as senior classmen.TEAMS TO WATCH1. BaylorThe Lady Red Raiders are coming off a Tennessee runner-up year in Division II-AA and return five starters off a 30-14 team, including their leading hitter.2. GPSThe Bruisers lost 18 matches last year and four seniors moved on, but graduation throughout DII-AA should leave them as state contenders.3. Southeast WhitfieldWith five returning starters, the Lady Raiders look to defend their Georgia Region 7-AAA title and surpass last year’s ninth-place state finish.PLAYERS TO WATCH1. Rachel Travis, Baylor, seniorThe 5-foot-11 outside hitter paced the DII-AA state runners-up last season with 485 kills and 343 digs and served 70 aces.2. Erin Hill, Sale Creek, seniorHer 785 kills, 645 assists, 463 digs, 148 aces and 127 blocks led the Lady Panthers to a school-best third-place finish in the Class A state tournament.3. Megan Collins, Southeast Whitfield, seniorThe Lady Raiders’ career kills leader looks to lead them to a Region 7-AAA title and beyond the round of 16 at the state tournament for a first time.
DALTON, Ga. – Many high school volleyball teams throughout the Chattanooga area are eager to begin what they feel should be memorable seasons. Thanks to the return of standouts Megan Collins and Hannah Graham, count Southeast Whitfield among them.
The Lady Raiders ended up 36-7 and were Region 7-AAA champions in 2011. Collins and Graham are four-year starters who played on the junior varsity as eighth-graders and are back for what could be record-breaking seasons for both.
Southeast begins play Thursday at Coahulla Creek in a tri-match starting at 5 p.m., with Christian Heritage also included. GHSA programs were permitted to start play last Friday, although no northwest Georgia program opens its season until this week.
The TSSAA season is set to begin Aug. 20.