By David Knox, Sports Editor
TRUSSVILLE – Practice for high school volleyball officially began Aug. 1 for the Hewitt-Trussville Lady Huskies.
Coach Katie Riggins welcomed back four seniors from a team that went 8-20 in the very difficult Class 7A, Region 4. State champion Mountain Brook, Spain Park and Vestavia Hills were the other schools in the region. This season, realignment has moved the Lady Huskies into Class 7A, Region 7, and it might not be much easier with Grissom and Huntsville there. Gadsden City, which struggled mightily last year, is the fourth school in the region.
Senior Rhianna Tyldesley returns at outside hitter after a strong junior year. She played in last month’s North-South All-Star Game. Also back are libero Katie Edwards and setter Trinity Roper. Kaela Belcher brings athleticism to the team as a sprinter and long-jumper for the track team.
Hewitt will play each region opponent home-and-home, but will otherwise stick closer to home. There will be trips to the Muscle Shoals tournament and to the Hartselle tourney in September. The Lady Huskies will participate in the venerable Margaret Blalock Tournament at Homewood Oct. 7-8.
The ladies will also host the Husky Challenge on Sept. 24. And they’ll host Clay-Chalkville on Sept. 12.
They will open the season at Springville on Thursday, Aug. 25, and follow that with the home-opener vs. Hueytown on Aug. 30.