The Pleasant Home volleyball team is looking to reach the state tournament for a fourth straight year under head coach Jerry Davis.

“We have a good chance to get back,” said Davis. “We are young, but we have a lot of athleticism on our team.”

The Eagles present two hitters that Davis said he would put up against any girls at any level of high school volleyball, in sophomore Sarah Kathryn Guilford and junior River Baldwin, who has committed to Florida State on a basketball scholarship.

“Guilford has really become a tremendous player and someone that we will be counting on,” Davis said. “Then you have Baldwin who is a legit hitter and athlete that plays everywhere on the floor for us.”

Davis finds a lot of importance in their back row, which includes Hope Gunter, a returning sophomore libero.

“You have to have a group back there that can get the ball up in the air,” said Davis. “It starts there, and if you can’t do it having those girls up front means nothing.”

There is a new position to fill for Davis after he lost his senior setter from last season.

“It’s a unique situation at setter,” Davis said. “We have three girls working to fill the position; Lauren Greathouse, Bella Worley, and Payton Hackabaa.”

Although young and inexperienced, Davis has no doubt that this team can repeat its winning ways.

“Our kids aren’t scared of a challenge,” Davis said. “We may not always be able to beat the bigger schools, but our girls will make them earn it, at the very least.”

As far as the aspirations for the season, Davis wants nothing more than to return to the state playoffs, but this time he wants a different outcome.

“It’s going to be a feel out process,” Davis said. “The girls will click at some point, though. When they do and if we get to the state tournament, we hope to hit the gold mine this time.”