The Charles Henderson volleyball team began the 2016 season with a loss to 6A Dothan in straight sets on Thursday night.

After losing 11-25 and 10-25, the Trojans battled hard in the final set before eventually falling 18-25.

“They played a 6A team today,” said CHHS head coach Jennifer Sikes. “Seven out of their eight players are seniors. Our girls hung really well with them. They were enthusiastic the entire time and never got down.”

Sikes said the CHHS schedule includes bigger schools at the beginning of the season to challenge the team for area play later in the season.

“Overall I thought they did a good job,” Sikes said. “We are running a 6-2 this year, and it was new to them. They did well … We do this in the beginning to win in the end.”

One of the strengths for the Trojans is the front line, which fared well blocking shots against the athletic Tiger front line.

“The front line today was awesome,” Sikes said. “I think we had more blocks today then we probably had in a season. They were really aggressive at the net. If they keep playing like that, then we will dominate.”

CHHS continued to struggle with serves, something Sikes has focused on since the summer.

“We are just going to have to work on bringing it back instead of giving it 100 percent,” Sikes said. “We need to get that first one in and get that confidence before we can give it 100 percent.”

The Trojans travel to Dothan this weekend to take part in the Tiger Classic, where they are guaranteed to play in three games.

“That is going to be great,” Sikes said. “The top three will advance out of pool play. I think we will do well down there and we will be able to get them playing time. We will get them consistently in their rotations and have them knowing where to go and how to react quickly. The quickness is what we have to work on. “

The Trojans will play in game two of the tournament on Saturday. The first game begins at 8:30 a.m.