MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County volleyball team opened its 2024 season with a 25-16, 25-23 victory over Thomasville on Thursday on the William Bryant Court.

Third-year coach Jess Patel was especially pleased with the play of Jessie Eunice, saying the senior was “on fire with her serving, defense and setting attacks.”

Patel added that Thomasville has improved over last year and her own team’s chemistry “looked great and I’m excited to see us improve.”

Six Lady Packers made their varsity debuts against Thomasville: Sadie Saunders, Madi Lane, Nora Avera, Zoie Hampton, Carli Brown and Dimaree Smith.

In addition to Eunice, the Colquitt County girls are playing veterans Clara Newton, Reese Webb and Juliette Turner.

The Lady Packers headed into the season without the play and leadership of last year’s seniors: Natalie Bryan, Jessie Blair, Claire Slocumb, Olivia Davis, Melanie Harp, Wynn Kinsey, Kate Summerlin and Jaina Turner and managers Isela Garcia and Summer Allbrooks.

Jaina Turner has signed to play at Middle Georgia State. She is just the second Lady Packer volleyball player to compete at the collegiate level, joining Ava Dickens, who played last season at Andrew College.

That 2023 group helped lead the program to 41 wins the last two seasons.

Last year’s 20-8 record and the 21-16 mark in 2022 represent the first two 20-win seasons for the Colquitt County program.

The 2024 Lady Packers will play host to Georgia Christian at 6 p.m. Tuesday, August 13, and West High of Salt Lake City, Utah, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 14.

Both games will be played on the William Bryant Court.

West High also is bringing its football team to play the Packers in the 2024 season-opener at 7:30 p.m. Friday at The Hawg Pen.

Patel said Colquitt’s 9th-grade lost to Thomasville’s junior varsity on Thursday, “but fought hard in the second set!”