Fall semester signals the start of the 2018 campaign for the North Atlanta volleyball team. With the season in full swing, the Warriors seek to continue to improve and build off of all results in hopes of success.

Season play kicked off with a 2-0 loss against Riverwood. Although the result wasn’t one of promise, the squad has gone on to a record of 4-7 with wins against foes such as Therrell, Drew Charter, and KIPP Atlanta Collegiate. Tough region play with challenging competition proves to be a feat for the squad, however senior outside hitter Savannah Denton says the team’s dynamic is what creates high morale. “Regional games are always challenging for us,” said Denton. “However, for us, it gives us a chance to improve and play against powerhouses to learn from them.”

This season the team is being led by first-year coach Casey Christenson, as well as community coach Jessica Latrice. Both say they are determined to push team members to improve each day, no matters the results on the court. Also leading the squad are two dominant, talented senior captains: setter Jenna Campbell and libero Pressley Perkins. With their veteran status and strong leadership skills, both provide support and motivation for the squad to continue to strive. “As captain, I’ve seen the team grow as a whole overall,” said Campbell. “Our goal is to be able to improve each year and continue to build the program.”

Senior defensive specialist Delaney Elder has seen this year’s squad develop a bond that is unlike any other. “This season I’ve seen our family grow into a family,” said Elder. “This bond that we have between all the players has made us closer than we have ever been before.”

Last season, the squad ended with a record of 12 wins 23 losses and went a disappointing 0 for 7 in region play. Region powerhouses such as Cambridge, Alpharetta, and Pope all have extremely strong programs with well-developed talent, making region play a perennial challenge for the Warriors. However, wins in tournaments like the Atlanta Public Schools tournament — which the team shows great success — serve to show that the program continues pushing forward. The Warrior volleyball team continues to improve as the season continues on. As they make a push into the state playoffs and the competition gets even stiffer, this much is known: The Warrior volleyball players will always put up a fight.