It’s going to be a busy week for the Andalusia Lady Bulldogs, as this week, they will take on area opponent Straughn on Thursday, and will host their fifth annual volleyball tournament Saturday.

The Thursday match against Straughn will be the first time the Lady Bulldogs will face the Lady Tigers this season, and AHS coach Angie Grimes said the team is anxious to play their rival.

“We’re looking forward to playing in another area game,” Grimes said about Straughn. “And, we’re looking forward to the tournament.”

Grimes said her team’s plan of attack against Straughn is simple when asked about the threat of Straughn’s Paige Caraway at the middle front position.

“We’re just going to play our game, just like we always do,” she said. “We always know who our strong middles are, and we always practice for that. We’ll always do what we normally do.”

For Straughn coach Lori Kinsaul, the rivalry between the two teams is not at the top of her concerns.

“We’re just going to treat it like any other,” Kinsaul said.

Kinsaul said right now keeping a level amount of uniformity in her team’s matches is at the forefront.

“My thing is keeping their focus, and their consistency,” she said. “We’re just going to try and play our game, and do the best we can. That’s my goal every game. As I’m sure it’s Angie’s goal. Whoever we’re playing, it doesn’t matter.”

All in all, Kinsaul said you can’t get too bogged down by the rivalry.

“You can’t worry about emotional stuff, the rivalry,” she said. “I’m not worried about that. That’s not my focus. You can get caught up in all of that. I just try to stay positive.”

The match will start at 4 p.m., with the junior varsity teams.

Fifth annual

volleyball tournament

In Andalusia’s 2009 annual tournament, the Lady Bulldogs beat Russell County 3-0 to claim the championship, and beat Kinston for the first time in school history.

This year’s tournament will again be played in a pool play format with Andalusia, Zion Chapel, Opp and Pleasant Home in Pool A; and Enterprise, Kinston, Highland Home and Elba in Pool B.

The cost of admission is $5 per person, and the first match of the day starts at 9 a.m., where Andalusia will play Opp on court A, and Elba will play Highland Home on court B.

The winner and runners-up from each pool will advance to the semi-finals.

“We’re just going to keep on doing what we’re doing, and just try to get better,” Grimes said.

For more information on the tournament, contact Grimes at 334-222-7569.