The Straughn Lady Tigers’ volleyball team is hoping that experience will guide them to another deep playoff run.

“Right now, we have three girls with a lot of big game experience,” Lady Tigers’ head coach Daniel Rodgers said. “These girls have been area champions and made it the elite eight the past two years. The other girls, though, are younger and they really don’t have the game experience.”

Rodgers said the attacking and setting should be the Lady Tigers biggest strength this season.

“Our attacking and setting should be very strong this year,” Rodgers said. “Sarah Langford returns as our setter, and she has done an outstanding job running the offense on the court for us. We also return Hannah Lawless who provides us with a strong front row, and she is a hard hitter. She really makes our front row tough.”

Along with Langford and Lawless, Rodgers said he expects big years from Ashley Hughes and Sydney Kinsaul.

“I expect the whole team to really make an impact, but those four players really stand out,” Rodgers said. “They have really put in a lot of work this summer. They should be a lot of fun to watch this year.”

Rodgers said the key to this season would be how the younger girls react.

“It’s a much faster game than the junior varsity games,” Rodgers said. “That’s been the biggest thing this summer was getting the younger girls comfortable with the game speed. I think they are starting to get there, but there is still plenty of work to be done. Our main goal this year is to win the area, and for that to happen we have to continue to improve every day we are out here.”

The Lady Tigers will begin the season on August 25 with a home match against Goshen. All three teams will compete.