Coming off the back of an unfortunate season in the 23-24 campaign, the Dubs girl’s volleyball team has come into this year with vengeance on their minds, with their rocking 5 and 1 win entering a cross-state classic against the 4 and 3 Cartersville Hurricanes. A major change in the guard seems to have not affected the squad negatively whatsoever, with the immense amount of new faces seeming to be anything but an issue. The co-head coaches in Lane Perno and Samantha Whitehead have emphasized a shift in attitude and work ethic within the girls, something that they feel has been the missing piece in finding booming success in the past. Now, however, seems to be the dream finally coming true for the team, as a turn-around season and a region title seem heavily on the cards.
The start of the month has been sensational for the girls, with all 5 wins being in comfortable fashion. Of the main goals that the staff have highlighted over the past few months, overcoming adversity was the consensus topic of conversation. With the team losing a whopping 6 seniors from their roster a year prior, both Coach Perno and Coach Whitehead made it a priority to not let such a change in leadership derail the focus and morale of the team. The uneventful 2023 year was also something that was drilled in to look past, as the goals of the 2024 season were the concern of the present. “‘We needed to shake off last year.’ That’s what we always told the girls,” Whitehead said. “The past had to stay in the past in order for our future to look brighter.”
And brighter it has looked, along with the faces of each player on the squad. The sudden domination of the girls has them and their fans enthralled for how this season will turn out come the October and November months. The girls are feeling rather unstoppable and only want to feed their hot hand and call their shot. However, the veterans of the team know that the job is far from finished, and any skid in form could cost the season. Defensive specialist Tyler Deweever-Mullen being the lone Senior captain of the squad is taking on the responsibility of keeping the girls in check and making sure the current streak isn’t warping their brains on the sights ahead. Alongside the coaches, Deweever is looked at for needed experience and leadership of the rather newer roster, a role that seems to fit her like a glove. “It’s unfortunate that I’m alone in all of this, but I’m more than happy to step into this role and head the girls to victory in my last year here,” Mullen said.
The new faces on the team seem to be following Deweever’s lead, as even the underclassmen and new junior additions are locked in for this 2024 campaign. Among the new girls, Junior transfer Laila Amos is the acclaimed standout by Mullen as well as the whole staff and associated members of the team. Daughter of the infamous Coach Amos, Laila has been utterly outstanding in her start here at North Atlanta, earning the captaincy in the process. Despite the fact that she is the new best thing on the volleyball block, Laila is incredibly humble and is focused more on the tasks ahead of her. “While the praise is obviously amazing to hear, the job at hand is the most important thing. Us girls have a point to prove, and I’m here to help more than anything,” Amos said.
With the new slate of games on the horizon, the girls are locked and loaded to carry their form out to the end of the month. Highlighted by big games against Druid Hills and rival adjacents in Pace Academy, the challenges don’t phase the squad whatsoever and the high of the start of the season is ready to be spiked down and solidified as much more than just a fluke. The Dubs aren’t here to fluff around and are making a statement as true contenders this year, putting themselves on everyone’s radar for playoff time.
