There is a youth movement in progress at Sparta High School for the Lady Bulldogs volleyball team this season after graduation takes four starters from last year’s team that finished 24-8.
Sparta returns just two seniors with varsity playing experience in middle hitter Julian Sroka and libero Jamie Woodworth. The only other senior on the roster this year will be first year participant and basketball standout Jessica Robinson. 
“We have a good group of incoming freshman to compliment our upper classmen but to expose them to  the varsity level this early could prove very interesting,” said Sparta coach Roger Gerlach. “ Julian has really improved her offense and Jamie is one of the better defensive players we’ve had here in a while.  Jessica’s length will certainly present some problems for some teams.  She just needs to play more. We are going to be the youngest and most inexperienced we have ever been going into a season, however, I do think we will still compete and play hard.”  
In the junior class only three players return in outside hitter Karli Hanna, setter Melissa Renner and defensive specialist Jenalee Stine.  Sparta also has 25 in the freshman and sophomore classes for a total of 31 players out for the 2010 volleyball season.
Sparta opens the season at  home Tuesday, August 24 when the Wesclin Warriors make a visit.  
That will mark the start of the 25th season for Gerlach, who is retiring his teaching position at the end of the year. His overall volleyball record at the school stands at 476-228-15.
The Lady Bulldogs will then compete in the preseason conference tournament hosted this year by Herrin Saturday, August 28.