Russellville volleyball eager to make noise in Area 15

By Staff
Scot Beard
Russellville volleyball coach Charlotte Dollar has worked to get her program in shape to compete in the tough Class 5A, Area 15.
She set the bar high for this year's team as they try to build off the progress last year's squad made.
"We are expecting to come out better than last year and go farther in the area tournament," Dollar said.
The team is off to a slow start this season because the members of the squad had prior commitments with travel teams, but Dollar said the squad is coming together.
Russellville is 3-5 overall and 0-2 in area play, but Dollar is not worried.
"We're starting to get our lineup finalized and coming together," Dollar said.
Leading the team as co-captains are Erin Reynolds, the lone senior on the squad, at the middle hitter position and Janae Dollar, a junior, as an outside hitter and defensive specialist.
Although the team lacks much senior leadership, they are not lacking in experience. There are a total of six juniors on the nine-member roster.
"All of the other juniors have played a while," Charlotte Dollar said. "I expect them to step up."
The other juniors on the team include outside hitters Alayna Groce, Brenda Bohannon and Tasha West along with middle hitter Megan Young and libero Anna Green.
Sophomore setters Ayanna McCullough and Taylor Smith round out the roster, and Dollar is expecting them to contribute.
"Taylor and Ayanna have to step up and control the floor as setters," Dollar said.
RHS falls to Florence
The Russellville volleyball team lost its fifth match of the season Monday as Florence jumped out to an early lead Russellville could not overcome.
Florence took the first game of the match 25-12. The game was tied 8-8 early, but Florence took control to put the game away.
Russellville was on pace to tie the match at one game apiece with a 23-20 lead in the second game, but Florence rallied to take a 25-23 victory.
Russellville won the third game 25-18 to avoid the sweep and battled the Lady Falcons deep into the fourth game, but Florence proved too much and ended the match with a 25-22 win.
Reynolds recorded eight kills, six digs, four aces and one block for Russellville while Smith had 15 assists, seven digs, two aces, a block and a kill.
McCullough had 12 digs, two kills and an assist. West had nine digs, four kills and an ace. Janae Dollar had eight digs, two kills and an ace.
Young recorded three blocks, two kills and an assist while Green had two digs and an ace and Bohannon had two digs.
Russellville travels to Muscle Shoals Saturday for an area match.
JV falls to Florence
The Russellville junior varsity volleyball team fought hard in the first game but could not top Florence as the Lady Falcons earned a 28-26, 25-14 victory at Russellville.