After making noticeable strides during head coach Rakeena Griffin’s first two seasons at the helm, the Putnam County volleyball team hopes to continue building momentum this fall.
The Lady War Eagles are coming off a 13-18 season in 2025, improving by six wins from Griffin’s first year leading the program. Now entering her third season, Griffin believes the team’s continued growth has been a product of the players’ commitment and the work they have put in throughout the offseason.
“We’ve been working hard this summer,” Griffin said. “We’ve been doing a lot of workouts and getting the girls ready for the season. We’re excited about where we’re at and the progress we’ve made.”
The Lady War Eagles return several players with valuable experience, giving the team a strong foundation for the season. With several players returning, Griffin believes that leadership will be important.
“We have a lot of girls coming back who have played a lot of volleyball,” she said. “That experience is going to help us. We have some leaders who understand what we’re trying to accomplish and can help bring the younger players along.”
Putnam County’s roster features a mix of returning players and younger talent, including freshmen and underclassmen who will have opportunities to contribute. The Lady War Eagles return Jaslynn Foster, Alexis Evans, Brysen Pearson, Yasmin Farley, Andrea Trejo-Martinez, Vannelly Martinez-Romero, and Perla Laguna, while welcoming several younger players looking to make an impact.
The team’s younger players include Lily Jackson, Nadiyah Little, and Deionna Reid, along with others, including Addison Wells, Mariana Hernandez, and Kailiah Stephens.
With a roster featuring players from multiple grade levels, Griffin said creating consistency and continuing to improve in key areas will be a major focus.
“We’re continuing to work on being more consistent,” Griffin said. “We want to limit mistakes and continue improving our communication on the court. Those little things can make a big difference.”
The improvement has been evident throughout Griffin’s tenure. After finishing 7-19 in her first season, Griffin said she believes the Putnam team is continuing to move in the right direction.
“Every year we’ve gotten better,” she said. “The girls have bought into what we’re doing, and we’ve continued to build. We’re excited to see what this group can do.”
The Lady War Eagles will face a new challenge this season after moving into Class 2A through GHSA’s latest reclassification. With the return of seven classifications, Class A was no longer split into Divisions I and II, moving Putnam County into a new classification and region.
The change brings a new group of opponents and challenges, but Griffin said she looks forward to the opportunity.
“It’s going to be a good challenge for us,” Griffin said. “We know the competition is going to be strong, but we’re looking forward to competing and seeing where we stand.
“We’re excited for this season,” she added. “We’re going to continue to work hard, continue to get better, and see what we can accomplish together.”