The Lake Oconee Academy volleyball team had one of its best seasons in recent memory despite an early first-round exit in the GHSA Class A Division II state playoffs a few weeks ago.
The Lady Titans lost their postseason match to the Barrow Arts and Sciences Academy in four sets but outperformed head coach Chris Ingle’s expectations.
After securing the second seed in Area 5, Ingle told the Lake Oconee News that he was proud of the team for stepping up after losing multiple players to graduation last offseason.
“The team performed better than I could have expected in the region. Considering we lost 4 starting seniors and so many freshmen were going to be playing key roles, I thought most of this year would be on a steep learning curve,” Ingle said. “After losing two games early in the season that we would love to have back, the team competed very well with all of our opponents at every level. We played our best match of the year against Oglethorpe in the region championship. It was one of the most exciting that I have been a part of. They are a very talented team with the most athletic players that we have seen all year. We are already working towards next year to improve in all phases of the game.”
The Lady Titans finished the year at 15-7 and 8-2 in region play, with their only two area losses coming to Oglethorpe County.
Lake Oconee Academy’s seniors, Chloe Manville and Georgia Bosart, helped the team in many matches this season, and Ingle recognized how important their impact on the program was, even in the losses.
“Chloe has been a rock in this program for many years. I had the privilege of seeing her advance from a team manager when she was in middle school to the senior captain and overall team leader,” Ingle said. Her servant leadership off of the court and her fire on the court will not be replaced. When the going got tough, Chloe was always there to lift the energy of our team. We were also thankful to have Georgia on the team this year. Her athleticism and instinct had a huge impact on our success. After not playing volleyball for years, she stepped in and became one of our most explosive players. She is a rare athlete that can excel in so many sports. They will both be greatly missed.”
Aside from the seniors, other Lady Titan players played their best volleyball throughout the season.
Bailey Patterson was the team’s man offensive force, leading the squad with over 140 kills on the season. Victoria Goubran also contributed on the offensive end with 68 kills which was the second most on the team. Goubran also scored for the Lady Titans with her serve, racking up 80 aces across 22 matches.
Ingle acknowledged that they were essential to the team’s progression throughout the season and that the two will play an even bigger role for the Lady Titans next year.
“Bailey and Victoria each had a really good season. They both love the game, and it shows through their work ethic and leadership on the court,” Ingle said. “The team looks up to them as they know that they can count on them in crunch time. They also have high expectations for their teammates as they are two of the most competitive players I have ever coached. Because of this, they should be our captains for next year and should be great examples for all.”
Overall, the growth of a good volleyball culture is the main focus for Ingle and his Lady Titans from this point onward.
The Lake Oconee Academy program was able to field the largest roster to date, and having a deep bench helped Ingle make sure he had the six freshest girls out on the court at all times.
The Lady Titans had 19 total girls on the roster, 13 of whom tallied statistics throughout the season. Ingle understands how important it is to have a versatile roster, and he believes it can only help the program as more girls get involved in the future.
“We were able to play many more people in each match than we have in the past. It was a great opportunity for our young players to get a lot of higher-level experience,” Ingle said. “It also allowed us to see players in different roles and to develop more of their game. If someone was having an off night, we had several others that could jump right in and support them. Even in the last few matches of the season, new players stepped up and made big contributions. I look forward to building on that foundation and expanding it with a strong group of freshmen coming in again next year."