The Dallas County Hornets’ volleyball team ends every practice by serving 250 balls in just 10 minutes. Only one player serves at a time and after they do, they have to retrieve their own ball. 

It’s the kind of workout that keeps players moving and also tests their ability on one of the game’s most important skills.

“It wears you out and then we play a game after that,” said Hornets head coach Linda Moore. “Hopefully, that will help us keep our stamina up.”

Conditioning shouldn’t be an issue.

Dallas County players spent their summer doing CrossFit three days a week, so the Hornets probably won’t find a team as well-conditioned as they are all season. When matches get close this season, the Hornets are hoping their CrossFit experience gives them the physical and mental edge to keep going.

“It was pretty hard at the beginning,” said senior Tori Hatfield. “We were all really scared, but we came together as a team and made it through it. I think it made us stronger.”

Hatfield, a setter, is the only senior on a Hornets’ team that returns all six starters off of last year’s squad, which reached the class 5A super-regionals. She said the team has two goals this year — win the class 5A, area 6 tournament and win a super regional.

“We’ve been working a lot harder this year in trying to meet those goals and we’re not stopping until we do meet those,” Hatfield said. “We are working extra hard at practice to make sure we can do that.”

The other returning starters are Taylor Moore, Alexis Goodwin, Lindsey McIlwain, Jamerah Smith and Ivey Harris.

“Regardless of the experience, it is always a learning process,” coach Moore said.

“You just have to continue to drill in the basics with them because you don’t want them to feel like ‘OK, I’ve mastered the game and there’s nothing else I need to do.”

Moore said after playing last season together and going through CrossFit, the team has grown much closer. She’s hoping that communication pays off in the win column this season.

The girls get along well,” Moore said. “I’m not saying there aren’t issues but they’ve learned to talk to each other. Communication is one of the big things we have been stressing all along, and they are doing a great job of communicating with each other.”

Dallas County began its season in the Marengo County Tournament Saturday. The Hornets lost three two-set matches against Tallassee, Stanhope Elmore and Chilton County.

Dallas County will play its home opener Tuesday against West Blocton at 4 p.m.