Off to their best start in 5 years the Bowling Green Volleyball team currently sits at 13-5 with just 4 games left in the regular season. For the first time in years the Purples feel they have the team to take them deep into post season play. "I have seen in the last couple of games more teamwork and more pulling together as a team when they needed to, even more then last year combined" said Coach Angie Neeper. The influence of the four seniors CeCe Smith, Arielle McKinney, Kellyn Campbell and Katie Goodwin on this team has been obvious. "They are the leaders of this team. Throughout their career they have had a leadership role. The underclassmen look up to them and understand what it will take when they become seniors" said Coach Neeper.

Last season the Purples went 9-8, during the same period of time. In 2005 the team went (8-10), 2004 (5-14), 2003 (3-12). So how are the girls handling their success this season. "It is a big deal to them. Once they got into a winning streak, the girls saw that they are capable of beating anyone they come across as long as they play together. This year it seems every game that we have fallen behind in, we have been able to come back and win. That is the biggest thing I have seen this year in the girls is that they will not give up. If it continues this way we will have a great post season. " said Coach Neeper.

Senior Katie Goodwin said "we are doing so well this year because we have grown as a team". All four seniors have some strong feelings about how they want to finish their season "One of my goals was for us to become more like sisters so we could trust ourselves. I feel we have accomplished that way before game 3 of the season. This season we are looking for a district and region championship" said senior Kellyn Campbell.

With only four seniors on the team Arielle McKinney felt some of the pressure. "There was some pressure because we knew we had to step up. We talked with the underclassmen and told them that it is a six person game so they would have to step it up as well. We have pushed as a team all season and have never given up in our matches" said McKinney.

For senior CeCe Smith it's about earning respect. "Every since I have been playing we were always known as the team that lost. This year, we have been able to prove to ourselves and others that this team is good. We have worked very hard and some people still don't see it because of our past records" said CeCe.

With Greenwood being one of the states top ranked volleyball programs the girls feel they will be overlooked. "I think this year people are taking note of our accomplishments. You hear more Bowling Green won, Bowling Green won instead of Bowling Green lost and that's a big change for us" said Kellyn.

"It has been very rewarding just being on this team and it will be a memory that I will have with me forever" said Katie.

There is no doubt the closeness of the four seniors. They joke and have a good time. "If there was one phrase to describe us as a group it would be opposites attract" laughed Kellyn.

The girls pride themselves on the fact that they do not give up in game situations. They also have participated for the first time in some of the best tournaments in the state. "We found out what we needed to work on as a team from competing at a higher level. It has done so much for the improvement of this team" said Katie. Arielle says "we are all on the same page this year. No drama, just playing as a team."

There is plenty of respect and admiration between players, but for now the Lady Purples have some unfinished business. There sites are set on a district championship or more, and for these four seniors there is no quit in their game until they get there.