By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

GAYLESVILLE – The Gaylesville volleyball program has turned to a former player to guide them for the upcoming 2026 season.

Haley Bryson, a 2018 Gaylesville graduate and former setter, was hired during the offseason. Bryson was an assistant coach last year and worked mainly with the junior high. She will also help coach the Lady Trojans in basketball.

Assisting Bryson this volleyball season is Courtney Joseph.

One of the major points of emphasis Bryson has had with the Lady Trojans during the summer has been workouts.

“In the past they really haven’t done a lot of workouts, so that’s made them stronger getting to come up here and work out,” Bryson said. “They’re all eager. They do anything we ask them to do. They work really hard to try and improve on what we tell them they need to work on to get better.”

Two of the Lady Trojans’ leaders from last season are returning in junior left side Lydia Reynolds and junior setter Chloe Collins. Collins was an All-Cherokee County Team selection last season. She posted 246 assists, 38 kills, 37 digs, and 12 aces.

Joining Reynolds on the left side is sophomore Aubree Colbert. Sophomore Bayleigh Ratliff will be playing on the right side. Anchoring the middle will be sophomores Abbie Bishop and Kya Green. Eighth grader Makenlee Young will be playing libero. Freshman Charlee Sentell is going to be playing back row on both the varsity and junior high teams.

Freshman Kylie Canada and eighth graders Addy Lusk and Alyssa Collins will also see playing time on both the varsity and junior high teams.

Gaylesville competes in Class 1A, Area 15 along with Cedar Bluff, Spring Garden and Appalachian. The Lady Trojans open the 2026 season on Saturday, Aug. 22 in a tournament at West End of Walnut Grove.

“We’re excited to start playing,” Bryson said. “I know they’ve improved over the summer. We’re hoping to be pretty competitive. I know last year was pretty tough, but we’ve really been working this summer on trying to raise their spirits and trying to get them to have fun. When they’re having fun they do better. I feel like that will come out on the court.”