As the volleyball season heads into its second full week of the regular season, the Pike County Bulldogs look to keep the momentum built up during the offseason going.

In the team’s first match, the Bulldogs met up with Geneva and Carroll in a tri match.

While the Bulldogs were unable to come away with a victory Thursday night, head coach Lisa Hayes said she was encouraged by what she saw.

“I thought we did a good job,” the coach said.

“All of the games were very close. The girls did a good job of playing tough and not giving up and that was very encouraging to see.”

With only 11 players on the team, it is easy to see why Hayes said one of the biggest attributes the team going for it is how well the players get along with each other.

“The girls really support each other,” the coach said.

“They are meshing really well now. And I think having such small numbers provides for better chemistry.”

An example of how the girls were able to pull together for one another took place before the season started, when it raised over $1,200 by selling close to 220 boxes of doughnuts for brand new uniforms.

“That showed the kind of character this team has,” Hayes said.

“It was pretty impressive and I was proud of each of them.

Last season marked the first year Hayes’ was head coach of the team.

Since than, she has been forming the team with the player she believes will take the program the farthest.

“Each of these girls do a great job on the court and also in the classroom,” the coach said. “They all behave really well – they are all motivated and driven to be the best they can be.”

Two of the girls that help drive the team are sophomore Kaitlyn Allen and junior Tierra Hall.

Both have been playing volleyball for the past couple of years, and both believe this season is going to be one to remember for the Bulldogs.

“We have a good team this season,” Allen said. “This group is very close to one another. We have a lot of confidence.”

Like her teammate, Hall said she believe in her team.

“We have been playing together for a while and we know that we can be good.

“We communicate well with one another. I think we can win state,” Allen said with a smile.