'Grit, work ethic' to carry Tiger VB up another notch

Caruthersville High School senior Kellijo Hudgens serves during a recent jamboree match at North Pemiscot High School.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

The Caruthersville High School volleyball program dropped significantly three autumns ago from a pretty solid place, however, there is no shortage of positive things happening around the program, most importantly, having a great work ethic throughout the program, as it continues its climb back to respectability.

“They are workers,” first-year Tiger coach Stephanie McGraw said of her players following a recent jamboree at North Pemiscot.

From 2018 to 2020, Caruthersville strung together three consecutive winning seasons. However, in 2021 and 2022, the program won just six games combined.

The Tigers took a big step forward a year ago, as they won six games, all of which came in the final 14 matches.

“Our girls have worked really hard this summer,” McGraw said. “They have been in the weight room four days a week throughout June and July. When we started having open gyms, they were there.

“Their work ethic is really good.”

And the future has nothing but potential, as McGraw’s group has just two seniors (Kellijo Hudgens and Pra’Shyia Grant) among the 22-athlete roster.

“They are learning a lot right now,” McGraw said.

Caruthersville has 12 freshmen, three sophomores, and five juniors, three of which are Hallie Walker, who plays the middle offensively and defensively, Bryleigh White, and Jamya Buttrom.

White can play either setter or outside hitter while Buttrom can play in the middle, as well.

Like a lot of Caruthersville athletic teams, McGraw’s kids possess athleticism, but most significantly, toughness.

“Their grit and hard work,” McGraw said of the strengths of this team. “They’re smart, so that helps us.

“They just have to get experience.”

Caruthersville opens its regular season today at 5 p.m. at Southland (0-1), which fell 3-0 at Holcomb in its opening match.

The Tigers will visit Cooter on Thursday at 5 p.m. and won’t host a match until Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. against Campbell.