Lady Trojans' goal – get past district tournament this season

New Dyersburg Volleyball Head Coach De’Licia Ahmad (center) talks to her players after a recent practice as the Lady Trojans prepared for the season opener on Aug. 19 at home against Chester County.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

By JASON PEEVYHOUSE

Sports Editor

The Lady Trojan volleyball team has gone through a preseason of change under new head coach De'Licia Ahmad as Dyersburg High School's netters are looking to make strides towards advancing further in the postseason in 2024.

Ahmad, who has served the last couple years as an assistant coach for the Lady Trojans, said practice heading into the season – which opens at home on Aug. 19 against Chester County – has been going well despite the head coaching change.

“The girls are adjusting to the different strategies that we've been trying out,” Ahmad explained. “They've been working really hard and we've been improving.”

Being an assistant during the seasons where many of these girls have been part of the program has helped lessen the period of adjustment many programs go through when a coaching change has been made.

“It's been pretty easy,” Ahmad said. “But, like I said, we've been having to try different strategies so everybody is just adjusting and us as a coaching staff.

“Other than that, it's been pretty smooth.”

Ahmad inherits a team which lost five seniors to graduation and has been eliminated from the postseason in the semifinals of each of the last three district tournaments.

“That group was a pretty strong group,” the Lady Trojan head coach said of replacing last year's seniors. “They were really vocal.

“So, we just need some people to step up and be vocal. But, we've kind of started to figure those players out early.”

This year's team does have the benefit of having five seniors at the top of the roster as well.

Kate Schroeder will step into the role of the team's setter as she will help get the Lady Trojan offense going.

“She's one of our captains and she's more quiet,” Ahmad explained. “She's a big leader. She didn't really get much of a chance to play in previous years so this is her year to kind of come out and show some of her leadership skills and how good of a setter she is.”

Fellow senior Kalli Maclin is a more vocal leader for the Lady Trojans.

“She's always shown a lot of energy since she's gotten here,” Ahmad said. “We're kind of looking for her to play that role.”

Since last volleyball season, Maclin has had more than a taste of postseason success as she was a starter for the Lady Trojan basketball team which one the Class 3A State Championship in March.

“She's brought that energy into the gym and has spread it out throughout the girls,” Dyersburg's head coach explained. “And throughout us as coaches.”

Another senior returning to the court is last year's leading scorer, Preslee Quertermous.

“We were hoping she will be the same this year,” Ahmad said. “She is one of our quiet leaders.”

Addie Gatlin made an impact during her junior year and looks to do so again this season.

“She has a lot of energy, too,” Ahmad explained. “She's another one that is a lot of energy but is quiet.”

Rounding out the senior class is Kyla Fowlkes.

“She is a soft spoken one but she is really good at keeping the team together and being positive,” Ahmad said.

Ahmad said juniors Izzie Odom and Taniyah Brooks will also see time on the court and could have an impact on the Lady Trojans' game.

“They both have stepped up a lot this year,” Ahmad added.

The Lady Trojans' head coach said there are a lot of sophomores in the large 10th-grade class who could see time on the court and aid the Dyersburg volleyball cause.

“We have a lot of girls that have come in and competed for spots this year,” Ahmad explained. “That is something that we as coaches said we wanted for things to not just be based off seniority.

“We wanted kids to come in and compete. A lot of sophomores and juniors have stepped up.”

Ahmad added the freshman class is also progressing with the adjustment to the middle school level.

Looking into the district, Ahmad said she feels District 13AA is always one of the strongest in the area.

“We're prepared for it to not be easy,” the Dyersburg head coach said. “It's going to be tough so we're working hard to fix kinks where we're going to be ready for anybody.”

That's a job which needs to get accomplished fairly quick as the Lady Trojans play their first district game on Aug. 20 at home against South Gibson – the second game of the season.

Ahmad said the goals for the Lady Trojans heading into the season are to just be more successful than they were yesterday.

“Just take baby steps – one step at a time,” Ahmad added. “Hopefully, at least get out of district this year. That's our main goal.

“Whatever happens after district, we're hoping for a positive result. But, just getting out of district is our first goal and having a good season.”

The road to achieving this goal begins on Monday, Aug. 19 when the Lady Trojans host Chester County at 6 p.m.