By Kaela Schommer, Big Sky Weekly Cub Reporter
Lone Peak High School’s girl’s varsity
volleyball team kicked off their season on
Wednesday, Aug. 31, in a game against the
White Sulphur Springs Hornets. The lady
Big Horns lost 0-3, in a three out of five
match. The lady Big Horns played in a tournament
in Sheridan before the first game of
the season.
Practices for the team began Aug. 15, and
with only six girls starting out, the team
slowly grew to 12 girls: eight freshmen,
one sophomore and three juniors. Only one
of the 12 girls has played high school volleyball
before.
Coached by Sarah Phelps who previously
coached the junior high team for Ophir
School, the Big Horns are part of Class
C; Class C schools must have enrollment
under 135 students. LPHS is playing at the
varsity level, meaning that the team must
compete against mostly juniors and seniors.
LPHS had a volleyball team in 2009, but
over half of the girls moved away. This left
the school short of girls to play volleyball
for the 2010 season resulting in no team.
With the 2011 freshman class coming in
at 24 students, the high school ended up
with plenty of girls to play volleyball. The
girls, with the help of Coach Phelps, have
been working to raise money by putting on
car washes in the Town Center. They have
also been practicing hard for the upcoming
season.
“There is a great energy at LPHS this year
as the high school is growing and varsity
sports are becoming a focal point for not
only the school but the Big Sky community,”
Coach Phelps said. “Our Big Horn
Volleyball team, while young, has great
potential, and will be fun to watch this
season. I’m looking forward to watching
them improve as a team as they gain varsity
experience in our division. It is exciting to
see so many young women take an active
interest in athletics. This bodes well for the
future of the Big Horn volleyball program.”
The team is falling into place, and the girls
are ready for the challenges they will have
to face this season as they prepare to face
the tallest, strongest, and most experienced
players in Class C.
