Lady Vols open season on road

A three-hour bus ride to the Hattiesburg area wasn't what the Starkville Academy Lady Volunteers originally had in mind for a season opener in soccer, but they'll take it.

After having Friday's first scheduled game at home canceled due to weather concerns, Starkville Academy coach John Morgan and his team will settle for stepping on the field for the first time for competition on the road.

The Lady Vols take on Presbyterian Christian in a 5:30 p.m. start on Monday.

“We don't mind taking trips so we're excited about the challenge,” Morgan said. “It will be different than normally we have to see every year. This will be a good team in a league that's higher than we are, so they will give us a good test and will show us some of the weaknesses we have so we can address them.”

It has been a long summer of preparation for Starkville Academy and the players are chomping

at the bit to kick off the season. The Lady Vols defeated Starkville Home School 5-3 in a scrimmage at Starkville Sportsplex last week to give them a taste of what's to come.

Captains Lauren and

Kaitlyn Bock have kept the team together through the ups and downs of the offseason. Even though the Bock sisters are just juniors, Morgan has been pleased with their leadership.

“I've told the team that it doesn't matter if you are a senior, junior, or a sophomore,” Morgan said. “If you are showing your potential, you'll be rewarded with being a captain. They've led by example during the summer. They are trying to be first in every sprint and really show out as far as their fitness times. In order for you to lead, you need to be the best at what you are doing than everybody else and I feel they do a good job of that.”