By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

After a playoff appearance last season the Southside High School volleyball team will have to start with a clean slate this year.

The Panthers made the 4A state playoffs last season, but head coach April O’Neal said her team will be starting from square one.

“For this season, we’re starting all over,” O’Neal said. “We lost 11 seniors from last year’s team.”

O’Neal also coaches the girl’s basketball and softball teams at Southside and will be welcoming some of those athletes to the volleyball court.

She said one of her main tasks will be to teach the newcomers how to play the game.

“Some of the girls playing with me now played basketball and softball with me,” O’Neal said. “I have to teach them the game, so they can understand the game.”

O’Neal said the team has been going to camps, working out and playing play dates over the summer.

She said the Panthers have a strong collection of athletes, but inexperience is a major weakness.

“We’ve got to get them to learn the game and get them to understand the mental part of the game because volleyball is very fast paced,” O’Neal said. “Once they get that, they’ll be okay. Once the mental part clicks they’ll be good because they’re athletes.”

Practice is already underway and in preparation for the team’s tri-match against Autaugaville and Keith High School on Aug. 22 O’Neal has been teaching her team the fundamentals.

“We’ve pretty much been working on basic skills,” O’Neal said. “I’ve been drilling basics, basics, basics. We’ve been drilling rotations and where to be on the court because that’s a part of the mental part of the game. If we don’t get that we’re in trouble.”