When it comes to volleyball, Fox Creek High School has been tough to beat.
A banner in the school gym proclaims the Lady Predators’ region wins over the past 15 years with only a handful of years missing.
Last year, the team didn’t take a region title, largely due to the fact that COVID-19 led to a partial season because many of the games were canceled, said Andrew Peckham, Fox Creek assistant athletic director.
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This year, the team hopes to rectify that, and it will if senior starter Jasmine Smith has anything to say about it.
“Hopefully, we can win. We haven’t done it since my sophomore year,” she said.
Head coach Kaitlin Wall attributed Smith’s role on the team as a crucial cog in their success.
“She is a key asset to our team,” Wall said. “She is a senior who never gets taken off the court. Her heart for the game is impeccable. She leads the team in digs and kills. 115 digs and 78 kills.”
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Smith has been playing volleyball since she was in the sixth grade. Her older sister, Calista, got her interested in the sport. Not only does Jasmine Smith play at Fox Creek, but she plays volleyball year-round on teams such as the CSRA Heat.
In her traveling league, she was often on a different team from her sister, and she said she thinks she liked playing against Calista Smith more than playing with her.
“We’re pretty competitive,” Jasmine Smith said.
While she’s played other sports, Jasmine Smith said volleyball is her favorite.
“It gets my energy out,” she said. “I’m a hyper person. I like to jump and run. That’s a lot of what I do in volleyball.”
Wall said one of Smith’s assets is “the ability to play any position I tell her and make big plays when it’s needed.”
Not only is Smith a great player, but she’s a leader on the court.
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“She is a team player. When her teammates are struggling, she picks them up. I can always count on her to get the job done on the court,” Wall said.
Fox Creek has a few games left in the season.
In a recent match on Sept. 21, Fox Creek defeated rival Strom Thurmond 3-1. The team’s next game is against region foe Gilbert on Sept. 28 followed by another region matchup Sept. 30 at Swansea.
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Peckham said that although the team has won a lot of region titles, it’s not a given.
“They’re in a tough region,” he said.
The last regular season match is Oct. 11 against Gilbert. Playoffs are set to begin Oct. 15.
Looking ahead for Smith, she said she hopes to land a volleyball scholarship and wants to get a degree in business management. She plans to become an esthetician and open her own spa one day.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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