With back-to-back Sweet 16 and 20+ win seasons, the Lady Leopards have truly emerged as a program. Banks County runs it back with four returning starters and has a real shot to go further than they’ve gone before.

PRESEASON INFO

2024 Record: 20-23; Sweet 16
Head Coach: Whittney LaHayne (5th Season)
Returning Starters: 4
Key Departures: Shae Britt (S), Shayna Vickery (L), Emmie Chitwood (OH)
Key Players: Kimber Meister (S), Bryanna Hernandez (MH), Hayden Carroll (RS), Kiera Gilkes (OH), Ella Langford (OH)
Strengths: “This upcoming season, we will be strong on a new front: blocking,” says LaHayne. “We have a strong group of hitters who can get up on the net for defensive blocking as well. While we lost some big players this past year who graduated, we have a very strong group coming up that I believe will allow us a smooth transition into this upcoming season.”

“I have told the girls since the beginning of spring/summer workouts that they have everything it takes to go further than we have in the past,” adds LaHayne. “I feel we are still strong in our area, where some of the other teams have lost some key players. There will still be some extreme competition, but if my girls put their heads down and work hard, they will do big things. Being the young group we are, we still have a way to go, but each season has been better than the last, with goals being met and broken.”