Just two years removed from a State Championship, the Lady Indians still have a part of that DNA in them. Tallulah Falls lost their top two offensive players, and their top defensive player, but have several experienced players back. They’ll get a chance to make some noise with their new move to GIAA.

Head Coach: Matt Heyl (7th Season)
2023 Record: 30-15; State Sweet 16; Area Champions; #1 State Ranking

Returning Starters: 2
Key Returners: Rebecca Heyl, Chesney Tanksley, transfer JRs Laura Rendon (OH) and Margalida Sanchez (S), Lily Smith, Ca’Rin Swinton, Shelby Whisnant
Key Departures: Addy McCoy, Katerina Foskey, Ashlyn Yaskiewicz, Skylyn Yaskiewicz, Julianne Shirley, Claire Kelly, Iva Ristic, Kate Gary (transferred out)

“We will have many shoes to fill; a couple are big shoes,” says Heyl. “The big shoes are Addy McCoy, who scored points with her attack and her serve being the best TFS server ever, and Kataria Foskey, who scored points with her attack and block. Between those two, they scored a very high percentage of our points. We also lost five other seniors who provided very solid all-around play and were instrumental to our success last season and filled pretty much the rest of the starting positions. We also lost two rising Juniors. Kate Gary, being one of those, was a key player heading up our defense as Libero last season. This program will be losing nine players altogether. The most we have lost in one single season since I have been here. This year will be the youngest makeup of players we have ever had for a varsity team. Two freshmen will jump straight to varsity Lily Smith and CaRin Swinton. A sophomore, Shelby Whisnant, will also be jumping to Varsity. This young trio will be an integral part of the Varisty core. Leading this group will be returners Chesney Tanksley and Becca Heyl. Chesney was the setter running one of the best offenses TFS has ever had last year. Becca Heyl statistically was our most versatile player, being in the top three in every major statistical category last season. She will need to carry a lot of the load, but we have some help coming in with two Junior Spanish players with a lot of experience. Laura Rendon has played Libero and Outside Hitter, and Margalida Sanchez is a skilled all-around player but primarily a setter.”

Team Strengths: High expectations and winning culture

After back-to-back Area Championships and 30-plus wins, it would be safe to anticipate more of the same. However, coach Matt Heyl has his work cut out for him in replacing an Addy McCoy (one of the program’s all-time greats) and Katarina Foskey as well as the Yaskiewicz twins. Several new players will have to step up in a hurry in an attempt at a third straight region title.

“Journeying into a new athletic association this coming season will be a learning experience to see what the competition is like,” adds Heyl. “The goal is always excellence. With the commitment I’ve seen in our players this summer, we will continue to grow throughout the season, and who knows what they might be capable of by the season’s end. I look forward to seeing what they will achieve. A push toward the State Championship is always the ultimate goal. We still have two lone players, Chesney Tanksley and Becca Heyl, who knows what it takes to win at that level. I’m sure these ladies will lead us well!”