WATCH: Lady Cobras reload for season without Skinner

Fountain Lake senior volleyball players, from left, Annaclaire Berry, Kamryn Whiley, Allie James, Jocelyn Brown and Kara Martin prepare for practice Thursday. - Photo by Lance Porter of The Sentinel-Record.
Fountain Lake senior volleyball players, from left, Annaclaire Berry, Kamryn Whiley, Allie James, Jocelyn Brown and Kara Martin prepare for practice Thursday. - Photo by Lance Porter of The Sentinel-Record.


FOUNTAIN LAKE — Fountain Lake head volleyball coach Tina Moore is entering year 26 with the Lady Cobras after finishing second in the Class 4A-West and making the state tournament last season.

Fountain Lake graduated four-year starting setter Sophie Skinner, who is now playing for University of Texas at Arlington. Last week, the Lady Cobras traveled to team camp in Branson, Missouri.

"Her position to fill is going to be hard, but we are looking for those pieces," Moore said. "I had a couple of girls who stepped in at team camps and did great. I think we are going to do well."

Senior Jocelyn Brown is a utility player. Brown is motivated by her teammates the most and prefers the offensive side of the court.

"I am looking forward to home games and the student section this year," Brown said.

The summer has been full of workouts, camps, field trips and team building exercises. All of Moore's teams have a theme each year. This year, the girls live by the theme "Ohana" -- the Hawaiian word for family.

"We have an amazing culture," Moore said. "We build our entire season around our theme. We might have a luau tomorrow. Who knows."

Senior defensive specialist Annaclaire Berry looks forward to the state tournament.

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"Mostly I look forward to the team bond we will all create as the year goes on, especially by the time we get to state," Berry said. "That's going to be fun. The girls around me motivate me to be the best I can be."

Moore said Berry provides a lot of spark for the Lady Cobras.

"She has a lot of energy," Moore said. "She brings it to the court."

Moore has three returning starters from last season, including All-State libero junior Faith Jones and an All-Conference outside hitter.

"I have even more hitters than I had last year so we are looking forward to a great season," Moore said.

Senior Kara Martin is an outside hitter and a defensive specialist. She said she is being recruited by Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kansas, and the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Martin is very enthusiastic about the upcoming season.

"I am looking forward to a great senior season," Martin said. "I want to make it to state. Honestly, I like everything. I love to hit and I love to block."

For the first weeks of practice the Lady Cobras worked on fundamental skills. Now, they are transitioning into more scrimmage type drills and in-game scenarios as the season quickly approaches.

Senior setter Kamryn Whiley has been dealing with an ACL and MCL strain from practice last week but is set to return to action soon.

After Whiley returns to the court she is ready to fill her role.

"We have really good team chemistry," Whiley said, "and the team motivates me."

The Fountain Lake seniors all agree Bauxite is the game they always have circled on the schedule. The Lady Cobras face Bauxite on the road Sept. 1 and then host the Lady Miners Oct. 4.

Senior Allie James plays middle front and has collegiate aspirations, too. The senior has attended numerous showcases to boost her recruitment chances.

"My motivation is the love of the sport," she said. "I look forward to winning."

Fountain Lake starts the season with a benefit game Aug. 18 at home against Clarksville, and the regular-season opener for the Lady Cobras is Aug. 25 at home against Malvern.*


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