Lady Bulldogs welcome new coach

Tina Knight had been the face of Freeport Lady Bulldogs volleyball since the sport was first started in the mid-nineties.

When Knight resigned at the end of the 2006 season, the search for a new coach began.

The search ended right where it fi rst began - right in Freeport.

Stacey Morrison, a fi fth grade teacher at Freeport Elementary, will be replacing Knight as the head coach.

Morrison is not fazed about the idea of coming in behind Knight who won three district championships and was runner-up in two other seasons since 2000.

Assisting Morrison is Freeport High School’s Carla Griffi th.

Neither coach has played volleyball in formal competition.

“We have just played recreationally,” said Morrison.

Morrison started the summer training with a two-day session headed up by Gulf Coast Community College head volleyball coach Terri Bedford.

Bedford and her assistant coach, Kristin Bortnick, put the young squad through a series of agility and footwork drills with Morrison and Griffith intently watching and learning.

As the drills progressed, players found themselves working hard but with smiles on their faces and grimaces when they messed up.

When asked about the upcoming season and district possibilities, Morrison said, “we’re going to win it.”

With a relatively young squad (only one returning senior), Morrison still has high hopes for the team’s success.

“We want the girls to have some fun this year,” said Morrison.

But she also wants to keep the winning Freeport tradition going.

To do that, this young squad will have to pull together.

But only one returning senior (setter Lora King) and one returning junior (outside hitter Curstin Buford), the rest of the starters are anticipated to be sophomores.

But rising sophomores Lindsey Jones and Heather Moore, who showed great potential in 2006, now have a full season under their belts. They appear to be ready to pick up where they left off on a season that fi nished with a record of 18-6 and as the District 1-2A runner-up.

Stephanie Morrison and Autumn Warner should also be key elements in the rotation as greatly improved diggers.

The Lady Bulldogs open the regular season at Class 3A Chipley on Aug. 27 and have their home opener on Aug. 28 against county rival South Walton.