Clarke Central High School varsity volleyball defensive specialist Charlotte York, a junior, plays during the 2023-24 volleyball team’s Senior Night. During the summer, the team attended a volleyball camp at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “We went to the team camp at Georgia Tech, and individually, (athletes) came up with how they’re going to contribute to the team. The biggest goal is we want to be united,” CCHS head varsity volleyball coach Stacey Scott said. “We want to be unified in everything that we do, and I think that’s what’s brought (us) success this season (is) that everybody knows that there’s something that they can do to contribute to the success of the team.” Photo from the ODYSSEY archives
The CCHS varsity volleyball team will play against Jackson County High School on Sept. 2 in the CCHS Competition Gym.
The Clarke Central High School varsity volleyball team will play its second Region 8-AAAAA match against the Jackson County High School Panthers on Sept. 2 in the CCHS Competition Gym.
Although the CCHS varsity team lost both matches against JCHS in the 2024-25 season, head varsity volleyball coach Stacey Scott is optimistic. After losing their first region game 2-0 against Winder-Barrow High School on Aug. 22, the CCHS team has practiced every school morning from 6:30-8:00 a.m., which Scott has strategized through rotations for players to run through before the upcoming game.
“We’re trying to be as big as possible on the net. (JCHS) has very strong hitters, (and) they like to take advantage of a weak defense, so we want to put up a wall and deflect as many balls as we possibly can to try (and) help our back row get us into an effective offense,” Scott said.
“This year, you can see the chemistry. I feel like everybody gets along. We all encourage each other. Last year, I feel like we lacked in that area a little bit, and that positive energy has just helped us play a lot better (this season).”
— Iayah Edwards,
CCHS varsity right-side hitter and senior
The Gladiators are currently 4-2 overall with a regional record of 0-1, and the Panthers, not having played a region match yet, have an overall record of 10-4. Having won four games so far this season, the CCHS varsity volleyball team has already surpassed its three wins last season.
“This year, you can see the chemistry. I feel like everybody gets along. We all encourage each other. Last year, I feel like we lacked in that area a little bit, and that positive energy has just helped us play a lot better (this season),” CCHS varsity right-side hitter Iayah Edwards, a senior, said.
Since most teams in Region 8-AAAAA have not played a region game yet, the Gladiators are currently ranked No. 2, despite being 0-1 in region play. To qualify for the state championship playoffs the CCHS team must maintain a top-four spot in the seven-school region, something that the team didn’t manage during the 2024-25 season.
“I want us to come out in the top four and go to state. We’ve gone to state before, and we’ve been knocked out (in) the first round. It’d be really nice for us to get into a Sweet 16 or an Elite Eight. (The team has) the ability. We have all the pieces to get to that point,” Scott said.
