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The Pike Liberal Arts Lady Patriots have won area championships in each of their first two seasons in the AHSAA and will look to continue to improve under new head coach Sellers Dubberley.

Dubberley took over the Pike program in June and hit the ground running.

“Things have been going good. We’re kind of learning the process for both me and the players,” Dubberley said. “I think we’re where we’re supposed to be at this time and hopefully hitting our stride at the right time.”

Dubberley comes to Pike Lib after compiling a record of 212-65 as a head coach with three state championships and two state runner-up finishes. Dubberley said that he’s less worried about where the Lady Pats are right now, compared to where they’ll be at the end of the season.

“Each season I kind of change my expectations of where we should be at the beginning of gameplay and just try to adjust as I learn,” he said. “The season isn’t a sprint, it’s more of a marathon and I think I put a little less emphasis on being 100 percent firing on all cylinders at the start of the season. I think it’s more important to set goals throughout the year and be your best at the end.”

Pike Lib returns a number of veteran players from last year’s Area Championship team, including All-Messenger Player of the Year Cara Rushing (124 kills, 34 aces, 64 digs) and All-Messenger athlete Anna Cate Friday (115 kills, 37 blocks, 16 aces).

Dubberley said that his Lady Pats was currently voting on who team captains were and he’s excited to see who will come out of that as leaders.

“There’s a couple of (players) I’ve identified that I think have the qualities that I look for in leaders,” he said. “I don’t want to say any names right now but I think they are learning a little about themselves as I put more and more responsibility on individuals and see how they respond to it. I think that leadership role is important and it’s something you can grow into. There are a couple that I think have those qualities and I’m interested to see who the players would choose to serve in that role.”

Dubberley said that one of his primary goals each year is getting the absolute most out of his players.

“My goal for every team I coach – whether that be club volleyball or varsity or JV or whatever – is to get every single ounce out of them that I can to take them as far as they can possibly go,” he said. “Some teams that means a state championship or a national championship and some teams that means third in state and that is the absolute best you could have done. It just depends on the team.”

More than wins or losses, though, he’s looking for his team to completely buy into him and the culture being built in the program.

“I have to have them trust me and following the outline that I’ve given them and show that culture that I’ve been preaching all summer,” Dubberley emphasized. “When we get down to the nitty gritty, area tournament time, my goal is for them to have bought in to everything that I’ve laid in front of them.

“I think in year one of taking over a program that would be the best case scenario. I would be trilled if I felt like they had fully bought in come area tournament time and, if they have, I think it will show up come playoffs. That’s, for me, kind of what I’m aiming for right now, to have that kind of understanding between players, coaches and parents to have everyone on the same page. If we do that, I know we can be successful.”

Pike opens the season on the road at GW Long on Aug. 22 and then heads to Ariton for tournament action on Aug. 24.