Morgan County volleyball is firing on all cylinders heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
The Spike Dogs are 27-2 following two more victories over Westminster Christian and Jackson on Tuesday.
Head coach Kathleen Goodwin is proud of her team, especially after dealing with adversity through injuries.
“It’s been a great season, but it has been a little odd because tonight was the first time since our home opener [in August] that we’ve had our entire starting lineup play together,” Goodwin said. “We’ve had a couple of injuries, so we’ve had to pivot and figure out who’d fill in for what position. Sometimes, we’ve had practices where only seven girls participated, so it’s been interesting, but it also shows the resilience of this program and the way our junior varsity players have stepped up.”
Freshman Brayden Burke stepped in when junior libero Camryn Scherer missed time due to an injury. Burke was a big addition at the varsity level in Scherer’s place, as the team never skipped a beat.
Morgan County, ranked No. 1 in Class AA, has won several notable matches. The Spike Dogs recently defeated top-tier teams like North Oconee, Westlake, Loganville, Jefferson, and Sandy Creek.
Goodwin said the tough schedule has better prepared her team for the playoffs.
“[We’ve got an] immensely talented group of girls,” Goodwin said. “I’m thrilled with how the season has been going. We haven't lost outside that first week or two of play. We’ve also played some tough teams, and our schedule has made us better as a team. I’m really proud of them.”
Morgan’s trio of seniors – Quinn Butler, Chloe Burns, and Haedyn Crumbley – are leading the way. They’re setting an example for younger players and leading the team to success on the court.
Goodwin highlighted how important that core group has been to the program over the last three-and-a-half years.
“They’re very self-motivated to exceed at their own highest level,” she said. “That just means they’re so intrinsically motivated to do well. You don’t have to motivate them too hard, and because of that intensity, it just feeds to others. They’re an intense group when they’re playing together.
“They have a lot of fun and enjoy being on the court together. You can see the years and years they’ve been together. They’ve been playing together since sixth grade, and you can see that.”
The team’s goals remain intact. The Spike Dogs want to win another region championship and are on track to do so, but they also want to capture their second state title in three years.
“Our not-so-secret goal is to be in the state final,” Goodwin said. “Ultimately, our goal is we want to win state again. We know what that feels like, and we want to win it again.”