CJHS volleyball closing season hosting Little Six tournament

By Clinton Courier | September 26, 2025 |

By Charlie Rook

The Clinton Junior High School volleyball team’s regular season has come to an end. After a very strong season with lots of positives to build on, the team shifts their focus to the Little Six tournament set to start September 20, and the play-in games for the tournament began September 15.

The seventh-grade team was composed of athletes who were all new to volleyball, while the eighth-grade team saw several returners, along with a couple of newcomers.

Head Coach Megan Smith spoke to how both teams have done a very good job adjusting.

“All seventh graders are brand new to volleyball and have completely bought into what I have been teaching them,” said Smith. “For eighth grade, we have majority returners, with a few newcomers. They work really hard and have done a great job adjusting to my standards, as well as [to] each other.”

Smith said a big area of focus this season for the teams was the importance of the serve, and that was where Smith says she saw the largest area of improvement.

“When I first came in, I set the standard early that serves matter in a game. They have worked really hard on their serves this summer, and it is paying off in games.”

While Smith admits it is easy for teams at the junior high level to lose focus in practice, making it more difficult in games, she says that has not been an issue for this team.

“The girls love practice,” said Smith. “I never have to question their effort or want to in practice. I hardly have anyone even miss practice, even during the summer. They come in and give me their best every practice.”

The main focus for the team this season has been keeping their sights on the Little Six tournament at the end of the season, and they have ambitious goals going into it.

“The goal is Little Six,” said Coach Smith. “They not only want to just make it to the tournament, they want to win it. We get to host the tournament this year, and they are using that as motivation.”

However, Smith is quick to point out that making the tournament is not what defines success for her team.

“A successful season for our group is where we grow together as a team, learn from our wins and losses, and walk away stronger than how we started,” said Smith. “If my players develop their skills, build confidence, and support each other on and off the field, then that is success.”

Clinton Junior High began tournament play-in games on September 15, with the actual tournament starting September 20, hosted at Clinton High School.