Our Lady Raptors Volleyball has started off strong, with a 3 game win streak to set the tone of the season. The most impressive win was against Charleston Collegiate, where we dominated 3-0 without allowing a single point. We look to improve on an already strong season last year, when the team had a fantastic 8-2 regional record. The key to success will be if senior leaders can fill the void left by last year’s departures. Travis Hunter-esque Helina Lloyd is dominant on offense and defense, leading the team in both kills and digs. This year’s schedule is full of difficult competition, specifically the star-studded Ashley Hall roster which is led by senior Tulane commit Charlotte Strickland. This team had been a playoff usual for my years at Magnet and we hope to see them continue. Other important aspects are the team’s younger stars like Mazie Jarrett and Emery Stallings. Now we see what senior Helina Lloyd has to say, “We are definitely going to state this year!! The energy this year is high, and we have some challenging teams in our region but if we want it enough we can prevail.”
One of the most difficult parts of our season will be recovering from the loss of senior Tennessee commit Alaina Jarret, who truly pushed the team to new heights. In order to recover from this loss, it is instrumental the rest of the team steps up. Team manager Hannah McLaughlin is projected to motivate the team, as other team members cite her “always positive attitude” and enduring positivity. Frequent home games will definitely be an advantage for this year’s Raptors. The Birdcage will be roaring with pride with all the games, with players on the team reporting a packed out student section, even on weekdays. Another key factor in this season’s success will be our ability to inspire students of Magnet: Sophomore Arthur Lee quotes, “I think this team will go very far this year because of their ambition and talent.”
Player Previews
Mckenna West– This senior leader looks to push the team with her experience on the court. She is known for her ability to draw fans to the games with exciting play-style and energetic persona.
Maddie O’Connor: Another veteran player that will be pivotal to the Raptors success this season. She is known for her killer serves and gritty defensive mentality, we will definitely miss this player next year.
Helina Lloyd: Sources say this will be our 2025 volleyball MVP! Helina does everything on this team, from defense to offense and hardly needs an introduction.
Emery Stalling: One of the most passionate players on the team, she gives max effort on every single play and is always hustling. The team is sure to rally around her resilience.
Lila Eberly: This junior is an emerging talent, with an amazing 7 digs in a single game. Her defensive efforts will be sure to secure more than a couple wins for the team. She will need to learn from this year’s seniors, as she will be a team leader this year.
Josie Melony: This locker room leader is always the glue that keeps the team intact. Her infectious positivity is a beacon of hope for the team that sheds light onto every game. This is definitely a very exciting player to keep your eye on.
Valerie Lacler: Valerie is a premiere player on this year’s Lady Raptors. More commonly known as “Full Send,” her fun loving attitude will be an awesome asset. Another emerging junior talent, players like this give us hope for next year.
Marianne Jarrett: Sister of famed Tennessee commit Alaina Jarret, this player looks to lengthen the family name and cement them into the history of Magnet Volleyball. Everyone looks forward to the impact that she will have on the team.
Perrin Denzel: This junior defensive stud is sure to have a withstanding impact on this year’s squad. Known for her determination on defense and persistence mentality, she has earned the nickname D Sizzle.
Emma Grace Pflug and Nina Pistorius: These freshmen have made their way onto the competitive Academic Magnet Varsity Volleyball team. While their impact might not be as immediate as other players, they are sure to develop into star players.
Harper “Woodlee”: This lone sophomore will definitely have some meaningful performances against some difficult Raptor opponents. She is known for her proficiency in the clutch, as some have dubbed her ice cold Woodlee.
Hingle Mcgringleberry: This 8th grade varsity starter has an electric on court performance.
Next few games…
The rest of the season
The rest of the year for our Lady Raptors looks bright as can be! We have started the season off strong with a 4-2 record, dropping one unfortunate game to the Cane Bay Cobras, who came out with fresh legs after opening their season against us, and a heart-breaking loss to Hanahan.
We had an interesting match against Stall, who have started their season out 0-1, with one loss to Goose Creek, who beat them in straight sets. This match was predicted in favor of our Lady Raptors, with a spread of -2.5 sets and the Raptors pulled through with a win.
The match after Stall was against the Lady Hawks of Hanahan. Through nine games this season, the Lady Hawks had only won three matches, which was supposed to make the winner for this game obvious. Our Lady Raptors were predicted to sweep the Lady Hawks in straight sets, but unfortunately the Raptors lost this match 0-3 with very close scores. The 8th grade phenomenon Makenna Gallus, however, posed a threat to our Lady Raptors as she leads several stats for the Lady Hawks including Kills Per Set (KPS), Hitting Percentage (HP), Total blocks (TB), and Kills.
The next match was against the Andrews Yellowjackets and was predicted to be the Lady Raptors most threatening challenge yet. Andrews has started their season stupendously, with a record of 2-0. The spread for this match was fairly even with a spread favoring the Lady Raptors at -0.5. However the Raptors easily defeated the Yellow Jackets 3-0. After this the Raptors are predicted to go undefeated against an array of difficult competition.
