Lovett volleyball looks forward

Lovett's volleyball team is working hard preparing for the fall season, putting the trauma of a behind them.

The accident occurred on I-75 in Lake City, Fla., as team members were headed for a camp at the University of Florida. 

Coach Mary Buczek said "the kids were very brave and courageous" in bouncing back from the acccident, in which none of the 17 players on the bus received serious injuries. Still, a couple of the girls received concussions, and several players are still not 100 percent after receiving cuts and contusions, she said.

The players on the trip were all freshmen and sophomores preparing to try out for the varsity, Buczek said. None of the team's five seniors was on the trip. In watching this week's  tryouts, which were extended because of the accident, Buczek estimates that about half of those on the trip will make the varsity team.

She marvels at the youngsters' spirit. "I was worried about the way they would react mentally, but the kids are real resilient and just want to play volleyball. They were upset because they couldn't go to camp." After treatment at two Lake City area hospitals, all of the players returned to Atlanta that afternoon.

The accident brought the team closer, she said. "We had to go to extremes for a bonding experience."