New faces to take over for Trinity, Bell volleyball

As the 2014-2015 academic calendar comes to a close, area teams have already begun planning and working to improve on their fall sports.

Football just wrapped up spring training and various athletes also participate in select or summer leagues.

Volleyball is no exception, and Trinity and L.D. Bell are already working to have a successful run once the 2015-2016 season hits.

Trinity finished 28-11 last year, claiming fourth place in District 7-6A before being knocked out of the bi-district round by Desoto in four games.

The Lady Trojans have recent success in the regular season, but look to improve in the playoffs. They have made three consecutive trips to the postseason, but haven't made it past the first round since 1996.

Five key players will be gone next season, having graduated. Bri Palumbo, Krystal Chavez, defensive specialist Janna Giddens, outside hitter Madison Ligon, and middle blocker Darian Bucknor, who was named Blocker MVP for District 7-6A. Palumbo and Ligon also earned first team all-district.

However, the Lady Trojans should remain strong with nine expecting to return plus younger athletes coming up from the junior varsity level.

Second-team all-district selections in soon-to-be juniors Elli Merchant and Margaret Dean should lead next year's squad as they attempt to make a deeper playoff run.

For Bell, it wasn't the season the Lady Raiders were expecting after finishing 8-21 and 1-9 in district.

Six of the 11 players on the roster were seniors, including first team all-district honorees Kayla Allen and Elizabeth Williams, and track and field stars Leisa VanVooren and Anna Hafoka.

But as the case in Trinity, the Lady Raiders bring back a talented bunch, including second-teamer Sidra Triplett, who will become a senior, and Shawna Glick and Sophie Rodgers, both whom also earned all-district distinctions.

After missing the postseason last year, Bell seeks to get back in the playoffs. The Lady Raiders made the postseason the previous four years in a row and 17 times since 1992.

Bell also looks to make it past the first round for the first time since 2012 and into the third round for the first time since 2003.

Either way, both teams will have talent for the upcoming season and will compete night in and night out inside their tough district.

This story was originally published May 22, 2015 at 4:29 PM with the headline "New faces to take over for Trinity, Bell volleyball."