Thunderbirds Much More Competitive Against the Knights

The Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbird Volleyball team continues to work hard on the court and is getting better each time they step up to play. The Thunderbirds have had to overcome more than their fair share of adversity this fall and despite the obstacles the coaching staff and the players are having as much fun as ever.

This year is very special in many ways as the team now boasts a roster big enough to field both a junior varsity and varsity squad. Head Coach Gemma Mount is thrilled by this as it shows that the school, the girls and the community are starting to support the program that she has spent the last four years developing.

The Thunderbirds saw their first action of the season last week in three matches with the Big Sandy Pioneers and the Centerville Miners.

Despite the team being behind others as far as the number of matches played the Thunderbird girls are as willing to show up and compete and get better than they ever have been and that is evident by their performance this past week.

The Thunderbirds were in Gildford to take on the North Star Knights in a District 7C double-header. The Knights swept the Thunderbirds winning both matches 3-0 but that doesn't even begin to tell the story.

For many years the Thunderbird volleyball program showed little competitiveness, little growth, but under Mount those things are changing and it's visible. "We played competitively but lost both matches in three sets," said Mount. "Although we came up short this was probably the most competitive we have ever been against North Star."

The Thunderbirds will be on the road this week with a match in Box Elder on Tuesday (results in next weeks paper) and Chinook on Friday. Saturday the Thunderbirds will head back to Gildford for the North Star Showcase mid-season tournament.