Commentary By Charles Prince

The North Jefferson News



Last Saturday was business as usual for the Gardendale Lady Rocket volleyball team. They won the Jefferson County Large School title for the second straight year and for the fifth time in the last six years.

The winning tradition in volleyball has been part of the Gardendale program for some time. Appearances in the Elite Eight are almost taken for granted, but last year the Lady Rockets came up short of another trip to Pelham and the state tournament.

If you’ve seen the Lady Rockets this year, you should be convinced they’ll make a trip to Pelham and the Elite Eight next month. The 2007 Lady Rockets have one ingredient all championship clubs have—heart. They display that heart by the way they preform on the court. They play as one, play for each other, they play hurt and they play hard. A team that has the heart of a champion, not only refuses to give up when things are going well, but they also display a whatever’s-best-for-the-team attitude.

The Lady Rockets displayed their heart on Saturday as they took another Jefferson County tourney trophy home.

Senior setter Emily Lawson has played the majority of this season with a pulled leg muscle. The injury has put her in physical therapy and has caused her to set out a few practices, but she hasn’t missed a single match because of it.

She played Saturday, although she was in pain from time to time. She didn’t care, as she told me, she can’t stop playing because it’s her senior season. Lawson would rather play in pain than let down her teammates.

Whatever’s best for the team.

Gardendale’s trio of outstanding outside hitters, Kendall Thomas, Beth Erwin and Kristian Moody, aren’t prima donnas who wait for the moment they get to excite the crowd with a thunderous spike for a kill. They’re willing to do the “dirty work,” of digging the ball up and keeping it alive.

Whatever’s best for the team.

As middle blockers, Gardendale has two first-year starters sharing time, rotating in and out of the lineup. Junior Rachel Brewis and freshman Rebekah Myers are doing a fine job of blocking the net. Neither one is complaining about not being on the court full time, they’re just playing as hard as possible when they are.

Whatever’s best for the team.

On the back line, Sidney Long and Lauren Ellis are sharing time at libero. Playing libero is a thankless job, because the position is a defensive specialist. Long has done a fine job all season keeping the ball alive, so her teammates can set up the ball for an attack.

On Saturday, Ellis provided a big spark with her play in the second game of the championship match with Minor. Ellis had three good digs, including one, when she went so low, her chin appeared to hit the floor. When she’s on the court, Ellis isn’t concerned about bumps and bruises, she just wants to win.

Whatever’s best for the team.

Meagan Poe and Taylor Lindsey play as hard as the starters, when they get on the court. Lindsey lent a helping hand Saturday as she recorded her first two varsity kills.

Whatever’s best for the team.

The Lady Rockets should reach the Elite Eight next month, because they have the one asset every team needs to get there—the heart of a champion.