Sitting in her classroom in between inservice meetings Friday, Andalusia volleyball coach Angie Grimes said she hopes her team’s 2010 season will be as good if not better than last year.

“Of course I hope that we will be able to continue to play well,” she said. “We’re working hard to fill the void left by the two seniors that left last year.”

Grimes was speaking of Amber Anderson and Air’Yesha Jenkins, who both graduated in May.

But, this year, the Lady Bulldogs have three seniors in Ellie Pollock, A.C. Riley and Megan Pugh; and juniors Omarria McGee, Meredith Tillman, Kristin Evans, Allison Daniels, Erica Staley, Shi’Amber Townsend and Amber Rooks.

Last year, the Lady Bulldogs made an appearance at the Elite 8 volleyball tournament in Pelham, but fell to Guntersville 3-0.

Grimes said despite losing those two key players on the team, she hopes the seniors will step up.

“I expect a lot from my seniors,” Grime said about who she wants to have a good season. “From the practices we’ve had so far, I believe that they all will do a great job.

“Of course the juniors — with them being so many — it’s hard for me to say right now any one person, or people that will stand out.”

This season, the Lady Bulldogs will be in Class 4A, Area 3 with Straughn, Headland and Ashford.

Grimes said she has not played Headland before, and that it’s been a while since her team has had a match with Ashford.

Grimes said the area has shaken up to be a positive for the team.

“I actually like the new area,” she said. “I like not having to travel as much because we know that travel is very expensive.

“It’s been years since I’ve played Ashford, and we’ve never played Headland, and of course we’ve played Straughn with them being right here,” she said. “I think it will be an interesting change having this new area, and having four teams in it. It’s been a really long time since we had four teams in the area.”

As far as any season goals the team has set, Grimes said the No. 1 goal is to make it back to the playoffs.

“Our largest goal is to continue on and make it back to the playoffs,” she said.

The Lady Bulldogs’ first contest of the season is Thurs., Aug. 19 at home against powerhouse Enterprise. Then, Andalusia will travel to Kinston Aug. 21 for a tournament, and wrap up a tough first three matches against Providence Christian at home on Aug. 24.

“Our largest challenge is with all great teams, and we start out the year with those,” Grimes said. “That way, it’ll let us adjust and regroup, and what we needed to do to get better. It helped us out in the end last year.”

The Lady Bulldogs finished their 2009 season with a 25-14 record.