Latta – Not only did the Latta High School volleyball program lose eight seniors from a team that reached the third round of the Class A state playoffs last year, but it lost its head coach as well.
Longtime Vikings head coach Kim Bean decided to step down. Her assistant of one season, Genesis Anderson, a former Latta volleyball and softball standout, was hired to replace Bean.
“We knew coming in with three returning starters that this would be a season of growth and rebuilding,” said Anderson, who graduated from Latta as its valedictorian in 2017 and was a North-South selection and Region Player of the Year in volleyball her senior season.
The transition has been a pretty smooth one for both players and coach. The Vikings have closed out the regular season with a 14-9 record and a 6-2 mark in Region 6.
“The 2023 volleyball season for Latta can be summed up in one word though – determination,” Anderson said. “As coaches and players, we established goals from the start of the season that we wanted to accomplish this year. We have been determined in every aspect to achieve those goals, not for personal initiatives, but for every person involved in building and supporting Latta volleyball.
“This determination has led us to remain undefeated at home (until a loss to AAA Loris on October 2) and bring home wins against some great competitors. This determination can lead us to big places in the postseason, as long as we can keep our eyes and determination set on The One who is greater than us all.”
The three returning starters are senior setter Rylyn Marsh, senior middle hitter Katelynn Roberts and senior rightside hitter Mason Lockamy. Each member of the trio is a team captain.,
Marsh had 325 assists, 203 service points, 39 kills, 30 service aces and 19 digs. Roberts had 25 aces, 82 kills and 30 blocks, and Lockamy had 17 aces and 136 service points.
The remainder of the starters are eighth-grader Aubrey Allen as an outside hitter, sophomore defensive specialist Samantha Townsend, junior middle hitter Madison Berry and junior libero Hendley Ann McIntyre.
Allen had 134 kills and 24 aces, Townsend had 31 kills, 17 aces and 76 digs, Berry had 46 kills and 23 blocks, and McIntyre had 102 digs and 17 aces.
The rest of the roster includes junior Sophie Haselden, junior Micah Jones, junior Katelyn Johnson, junior Maddie Berry and senior Aurora Freed.
Anderson said she is excited to be coaching at her alma mater.
“I was the head junior varsity coach last season and was hired this year to fill some great shoes,” she said. “I am a graduate of Latta High School so it has been great to be home and pour into an amazing group of young ladies.”
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