The Tribune

Contributed by

Buster Laing

Grand Bahama Sports.com

HERE are three key storylines ahead of the 2017 high school volleyball season, as well as Grand Bahama Secondary School Athletic team rankings and players to watch.

Can Bishop Michael Eldon

junior girls win another title?

The Bishop Michael Eldon junior girls' volleyball team will begin the mission of trying to win their second straight volleyball championships when the season tips off today.

Bishop Michael Eldon comes in as No.2 in the Grand Bahama Sports.com Volleyball Rankings behind the favourites Tabernacle Baptist Academy.

For the Warriors, they will be led by last year's Grand Bahama Sports.com Player of the Year and Championship MVP in outside hitter Royjanae Brown.

Coaches in the hot seat

With the 2017 volleyball season upon us, coaches are starting their journey of taking their teams to a local championship and possibly national championship.

Some, however, are already under enormous pressure to right their ships. There are coaches from powerful programmes who just haven't reached the heights the fan base and student body expect. There are coaches who just haven't gotten their programmes off the ground. Some haven't found the same success as they had elsewhere.

• Here are two coaches who could really use a big year to silence the naysayers who feel like they should be on the hot seat.

BMES Coaching Squad: Allan

Hall and Cherise Hollingsworth

Taking over the full-helm of the athletic programme and the volleyball teams this year at Bishop Michael Eldon will be Cherise Hollingsworth.

Hollingsworth replaced long-time coach Wayne Smith, who has had his share of success as volleyball coach for many years. Coach "H" has the personality and the connection to continue the winning tradition in Warrior country. Coach Allan Hall leaves the primary school division to join the big boys at Bishop Michael Eldon.

Can Hall match the same success he had at the primary school level?

These two coaches could really use a big year to silence the naysayers who may feel like they should be in the hot seat.

Can TBCA overcome losses of Altavia Hall, Talia Vega and Lashelle Russell?

Tabernacle Baptist Academy lost one of the nation's best servers and middle blockers in Altavia Hall. Hall was the Grand Bahama Sports.com Player of the Year and Championship MVP, setter Talia Vega and middle blocker Lashell Russell.

Coach Whitney Armbrister has high hopes in outside hitters Kaylin Hewitt and Tatiana Lockhart. They are both long and athletic and could form the best outside hitting tandem in high school.

Grand Bahama Sports.com Junior Girls Volleyball Rankings presented by Grand Bahama Sports and Travel

1. Tabernacle Baptist Academy

2. Bishop Michael Eldon

3. Sunland Baptist Academy

4. Eight Mile Rock

5. Sister Mary Patricia

6. Lucaya International

7. Jack Hayward Junior

2016 Junior Girls Championship results

Junior Girls

Bishop Michael Eldon 2, Sunland Baptist 1

MVP: Royjanae Brown

Grand Bahama Sports.com Senior Girls Volleyball Rankings presented by Grand Bahama Sports and Travel

1. Tabernacle Baptist Academy

2. Eight Mile Rock

3. Sunland Baptist Academy

4. Bishop Michael Eldon

5. Lucaya International

6. St. Georges

7. Jack Hayward Junior

Senior Girls

Tabernacle Baptist 2, Eight-Mile Rock 0

MVP: Altavia Hall

Opening Day Schedule

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

3:45 p.m. @ STGHS - LIS vs BMES (JG)

4:00 p.m. @ STGHS - SBA vs SMPR (SG)

4:15 p.m. @ STGHS - LIS vs BMES (JG)

4:30 p.m. @ STGHS - SBA vs STGHS (SG)

3:45 p.m. @ JHHS - JHJHS vs TBCA (JG)

4:00 p.m. @ JHHS - JHHS vs TBCA (SG)