Troy volleyball enters season with high hopes

Troy High School Volleyball coach Jordan Graves has a set goal for her team this year and is hoping for the very best.

While the team lost its starting setter from last season, she’s hopeful a star player will emerge.

“Senior Katelynn Tallmadge will be stepping up for our team this year. They’re having to learn how to hit off a new setter, but she has taken on the responsibility wonderfully,” Graves said.

Junior Talise Becquart is another one to look out for.

“She has so much natural talent and drives to get better.” Graves said.

Troy volleyball was winless last year, but Graves is hoping that her team will come into this year with higher expectation.

“I expect my team to do better each day they play. Already, I am installing in the girls that each day they need to strive to do better, even if it is in only one area. I’ve seen so much improvement from last year but there are still areas that we need to improve on,” she said.

Graves is excited to be working with these girls and is looking forward to seeing improvements throughout this season.

“I am excited to compare stats from last year with this year and encouraging them to work hard and improve.” Graves added. Being a coach has many responsibilities that come with it. Sometimes it gets hard, Graves said, but it’s all worth it.

“My favorite part of this job is seeing the girls come out of their shells and open up to me and my assistant coach, Alyssa Tallmadge. We laugh so much, I love it. It’s so amazing that through sports we can impress on these students’ life-skills that will use for the rest of their lives. Hard work and perseverance are valuable outside of high school sports. It’s encouraging to see that kids go and do amazing things with their lives and I get to be a small part of that,” Graves added.

The team opens the season today with a match against Stillwater. They host Anaconda on Sept. 6.