Enthusiastic crowds are greeting John Hopkins volleyball players. The boys team is undefeated at 4-0 and the girls team is 3-1 as of Sept. 17.
“The crowds have been awesome,” said Kira Guyotte, who coaches the girls team. “Even at the away games we have had a big cheering section.”
Gwendolyn Webb, who coaches the boys team, said she wants the team to have fun, but before anyone plays, they must have good grades. Win or lose, the focus is on “grades and character.” Coach Webb said she is not anticipating playing any particular team but is “excited to play some . new teams that we did not face last year.”
The boys defeated Meadowlawn, Madeira Beach, Sanderlin, and Thurgood Marshall.
“I feel like being undefeated keeps our heads up,” said eighth grader Stuart Hine.
Coach Guyotte says she hopes she can teach her players new development strategies and hopes to improve their overall performance. Her average practice is “just casual drills such as spiking, setting, passing, and sometimes a scrimmage game.”
The girls’ only loss came at the hands of Madeira Beach. “The score was 2-1. Madeira Beach won two sets and we won one. We’re the only team so far to have beaten them in a set. Every other school so far lost to them 2-0,” said Coach Guyotte.
“Being on the volleyball team has allowed me to form relationships with new people I didn’t see myself interacting with and bonding over our shared love for the sport,” said seventh grader Gabriella Barron.
The remaining schedule includes Pinellas Park, Mangrove Bay, Tyrone, and Bay Point.
