Opp head volleyball coach Christie Spurlin said her team’s No. 1 goal this year is to have a winning season.

“We’ve been working really hard lifting weights and practicing,” Spurlin said. “So, the girls have really worked hard this summer. Even since school started, they’ve practiced well. They’ve all got good attitudes so far, and hopefully that’ll carry on to the season.”

The Lady Bobcats ended their 2009 season at the Class 4A South Regional tournament in Mobile against UMS-Wright.

This season, Opp will be doing battle in Class 3A, Area 2 against Geneva, Luverne and Pike County.

On the team this year, the Lady Bobcats are comprised of six seniors in Soyia Folmar, Paige Summerlin, La’Te Teague, Kimberly Vaughn, Charlene Wyatt and Makayla Hoffman; two juniors in Kourtnee Bradley and Adrea Sheperd; one sophomore in Bailey James; and two freshmen in Laiken Free and Caiden Harrell.

“I think having that many seniors on the team will encourage them and pump them up to have a good season since it’s their senior year,” Spurlin said. “I’m looking forward to the season to see what’s ahead.”

Opp will start its 2010 season on Thursday at home against Zion Chapel. The junior high team starts at 4 p.m., followed by junior varsity and varsity.

This season, the Lady Bobcats only have seven home games, and Spurlin said it ended up being scheduled that way because of the new alignment.

“I guess since we moved to 3A, those area games we’ll play are away,” she said. “And usually, next year, they’ll all be at home.”

Spurlin said the team had a good summer with workouts and conditioning in addition to camp.

“We were in the weight training and conditioned during the summer,” she said. “Middle Tennessee did our camp, and the girls learned a lot there, too. They did a good job with that.”

Helping Spurlin out this year will be assistant coach Jessica Wood.