By By BRUCE HIXON-Sports Editor
It was a starting point, but Monday's opening day of practice was not the kind of starting point first-year W.S. Neal Lady Blue Eagles volleyball coach Chuck Riddle wanted.
Riddle anticipates 15 players on his roster this season. Of those 15, only seven took part in Monday's first practice. An eighth player was present, but did not participate due to illness.
See LADY EAGLES Page 8A
"I'm not sure why the other players aren't here, but if they want to play they need to get here as quickly as possible," Riddle said.
The eight members who were present Monday were varsity players.
Last week W.S. Neal had as many as 11 players take part in its team camp that was instructed by the Jefferson Davis Community College Lady Warhawks.
On a team that features no seniors this season, Riddle said communication is a key.
Although it was middle of summer when Riddle took over the program, the W.S. Neal coach said his group was still able to get in some good offseason work.
W.S. Neal did not take advantage of the new Alabama High School Athletic Association rule that now allows up to seven days of summer team competition.