Polk teams kick off volleyball season in Floyd
Rockmart and Cedartown volleyball seasons are underway after both teams went to Coosa High School over the weekend to visit the reigning state champions as they took part in the annual Battle of the Counties tournament before getting into area play.
The Lady Jackets, coming off a big season of their own in 2016, finished out the day with a 2-0 match win over
from B1 includes $42 million in guaranteed money.
"I always feel like I've got something to prove," Trufant said. "I'm trying to compete, trying to get better, trying to win. I hate losing. Regardless of ( the contract) is, I'm trying to get better and take my game to the next level."
Trufant, who was the 22nd overall pick in 2013, did his best to stay in- Armuchee in a pair of 25-21 sets over the Lady Indians.
Defending state champion Coosa took a 2-0 win over Cedartown in their opener for the season as well. The Lady Eagles grabbed the two-set victory over the Lady Bulldogs with scores of 25-12 in the first, and 25-21 in the second.
Cedartown was set to play at Rockmart for the annual rivalry match between the two teams on the court on Tuesday after press time. volved with the team while recovering from the injury. He not only took younger defensive backs such as Jalen Collins and Brian Poole under his wing, he spent more time in the film room — studying offensive schemes, spotting tendencies, looking for ways to come back stronger than ever.
"I was doing whatever I could to help the team in any way I could," Trufant said. "It helped me to see the game from a different perspective. It happened for a reason. I've just got t o keep pushing and move forward this year, try to get better at something every day."
A week into training camp, coach Dan Quinn is thrilled with the return of his lockdown cornerback.
"It's the quickness," Quinn said. "He can match up on different players. He can play nickel, play outside, play inside, all the different spots. He's got very good anticipation, route recogni t i o n, i nf o r mation
Following that, the Lady Bulldogs head to Model on Thursday to play in a round robin between the Lady Blue Devils and Calhoun, and then next week face Coosa again as the Lady Eagles host Cedartown and Heritage on Aug. 15, and then on Aug. 17 the Lady Bulldogs host their first match of the year against Chattooga.
Rockmart's upcoming schedule includes hosting Woodland and East Paulding on Thursday, a trip to North where he can say, ' OK, he's about to break out, so I've got to undercut the guy.' Those are things that come with experience. He's been in the fire, so to speak, for a long time. He knows some of those tricks now."
Trufant is fully recovered from the shoulder injury, meaning there are no limitations in training camp. He's the unquestioned leader of a rapidly improving secondary that includes another seasoned cornerback, Robert Alford, along with Paulding to face the home team and Marietta on Aug. 15, and then a trip to Haralson County for a round robin with the Lady Rebels and Villa Rica on Aug. 17.
Mark calendars for Aug. 19, which is the all important Battle at the Rock volleyball tournament in which both Cedartown and Rockmart will play during the Saturday event. safeties Ricardo Allen and Keanu Neal.
All around the defense, the Falcons show signs of developing into one of the league's top units, from sack leader Vic Beasley Jr. to first-round pick Takkarist McKinley to a dynamic group of young linebackers that features Deion Jones and De'Vondre Campbell, both of whom started as rookies.
"It's a lot of talent," Trufant said, his smile growing bigger and bigger. "A lot of young guys, young guys that can run, that can make plays, that are aggressive, that can cover, that can tackle. We've got a wide variety of guys. I'm excited. We've just got to keep putting that work in, keep grinding. It's not always going to be perfect, but we've just got keep pushing toward that."
He's eager to get back to the Super Bowl.
Only this time, as more than a spectator.