By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

The Morgan Academy girls’ volleyball team looks to continue its recent success and capture another state crown.

The two-time defending AISA state champs are hoping to complete the three-peat, but they’ll first have to learn to play together.

“We want to continue to be competitive and make it back to the final four,” said head coach Jennifer Moore.

Moore said the Senators have to replace seven seniors from last year’s team who were the core of the team.

She said she thinks she has a strong group to lead the team.

“We’ve got a good group who were juniors last year and will be seniors this year,” said Moore. “They’ve got good attitudes.”

Moore said the team lacks a lot of game experience as some of them are coming up from junior varsity. The team will have to depend on the six returning players who do have varsity experience to lead the team.

“Two of our seniors, Morgan Smith and Kalli Jones, are who I’m expecting to lead the team,” said Moore. “Laigan Godwin is playing outside and is very athletic and can hit it hard.”

Megan Leighsiddens and twins Lauren and Lindsey Yeldall round out the players with varsity experience. Moore said the team will have to get a feel for each other in order for the Senators to capture another state title.

“They’ve really go to learn to work together as a team,” she said. “This group will have to learn to work together and be competitive at the same time.”