Sports
Season Outlook: Athens Lady Bulldogs
By: Aesia Toliver, Emily Rorris
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Following their best season in school history, the Athens Lady Bulldogs hit the hardwood this past week, starting their 2013-14 season.
After taking the district title last year with their 22nd win over the Jackson Ironladies, the team is looking to reevaluate their strategies for the upcoming season.
“We’re going to be a different style team this year,” said head coach Wayne Horsley.
This season marks the first in five years where the team has no players above six feet tall, preventing them from relying on blocking as much as in previous seasons.
“We’ll have a little bit of a new identity offensively…little more solid, little more sound defensively,” said Horsley.
After losing four players to graduation, including standout Emma Stanley, the Lady Bulldogs’ biggest strength is "team chemistry," said Horsley.
Horsley noted four prominent players on this year’s roster: Dominique Doseck, Olivia Harris, Elyse Lutz and Hannah DeBruin. All were the key players for the team last season, and Horsley is expecting them to be the frontrunners this season as well.
“All the players we have returning from our roster are going to be contributing players for us,” said Horsley. “Obviously Dominique Doseck is going to be the straw that stirs the drink.”
Outside of returning players, there are also a few moving up from JV this season.
Sara Skinner, Lexie McCollum and Rachel Gilkey are young talent that will give the team options and depth.
Horsley has some new strategies for the team and their roster is strong. The expectations are high for the Bulldogs after last year’s impressive season.
When asked what games stand out to coach on the Bulldogs’ schedule this year, Horsley responded, “They all stand out on our schedule—take them one at a time.”