Lady Gators ready to go for fourth title
By Ross Wood Democrat Sports Editor

The Clarke Prep School Lady Gators start the season Saturday, Aug. 25 in the Elite 8 tournament in Mobile. The top teams from last season meet each year in the tournament. Photo by www.randyglassphotography.com

Players are not allowed to talk about it and the head coach flushes red-mad when it is mentioned but the facts are the Clarke Prep School Lady Gators have won three straight Class A state titles and the core of the team returns to chase a possible fourth straight championship.

"We are excited about the upcoming season," Coach Jami Barlow said. "There has been a lot of transformation up to this point concerning personnel, but we are all on the same page now."

Hoping to help push the team towards that fourth title are returning players Tess Ackerman, Corrie Allen, Julie Banks, Whitney Larrimore, Jessica McKinley, Harley Horton, Andrea Bagley, Rachel Mayton and Allie Dunagan.

All of these girls either started or saw a lot of playing time last year. Ackerman and Allen were named to the all-tournament team after the Lady Gators beat Sumter Academy.

Allen was named the MVP of the tournament.

"Corrie and Tess are two setters that work amazingly well together," Barlow stated.

"I have done my best to explain to the girls how tough our job is going to be to defend our three state titles," Barlow said. "It all starts when you look at how hard they worked this summer with the weights and the conditioning."

Kay Kay Grocholl and Courtney Dunagan are the two newcomers to the varsity team.

"Each of my girls has a vital role on our team," she added. "Each must fulfill that role for us to have an opportunity for post season play."

Barlow points out that one of the strengths of the team is their play on offense.

"Harley, Jessica, Tess and Corrie each have a great swing," she said. "Right now we're working hard on our passing and serving.

The Lady Gators open the season on Saturday, Aug. 25 when they travel to Mobile to participate in the Elite 8 tournament. They have their home opener on Thurs., Aug. 30 when they meet Sumter in a rematch of last year's Class A title game.

"Our quote for the year is 'Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't want to work hard,'" Barlow said. "That is a reminder that we have to work hard every day."

Clarke Prep School Lady Gator 2007 Volleyball Schedule

Aug. 25*	@Cottage Hill (Elite 8)	Tba
Aug. 30	Sumter	4:30
Sept. 6	Marengo	4:30
Sept. 8*	Macon East Tourn.	Tba
Sept. 11	@ Escambia	4:30
Sept. 15*	CPS Tourn.	Tba
Sept. 17	@ Jackson	4:30
Sept. 24	Cottage Hill	4:30
Sept. 25	@ Wilcox	4:30
Sept. 27	@ Monroe	4:30
Oct. 4	@ Faith	4:30
Oct. 9*	Wilcox/Faith	4:30
Oct. 11	@Marengo	4:30
Oct. 16*	Escambia /Monroe	4:30
Oct. 18	Jackson (Sr Night)	4:30
Oct. 22-23*	Region Tourn.	Tba
Oct. 27*	State Tourn.	Faulkner

Italicized Games Denote Region Play *Varsity Only

Head Coach Jami Barlow, Assistant Coach Angela Larrimore

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