Last year, the East Lake Eagles won back-to-back state championships in volleyball, but after losing almost half of their team to graduation, the Eagles are looking for some new players to step up this season.

Those players include senior libero Brooke Burkett, along with middle blockers Mary Gillis and Shelby Younger. Having played on two state champion squads, these three have a wealth of experience to share with their younger teammates.

The man behind those titles, Head Coach Mike Estes, attributes their continued success to being more conditioned than their opponents. He also stresses the importance of patience for his players, who were able to do just that that when they dropped the first game at state, only to go on and win a second consecutive state championship.