Hurricanes volleyball a work in progress

Manatee High's volleyball team is ready for a rebuilding season.
But that doesn't mean the Hurricanes don't have their goals.
They want to win another county championship. They want to return to a mid-season tournament at The Academy of Holy Names in Tampa and retain their title.
The main point, however, is to get better.
"We'll take it one day at a time," said coach Jessica Hinkle.
Courtney McDonald, now at Auburn, and Taylor Mealy have graduated. The two were the main cogs of core that carried the Canes to four consecutive Class 5A regional tournaments and three county crowns since 2005.
This season, Hinkle is taking a different approach, one where she is teaching the game to some of the young players on her roster.
Manatee jumped right in, opening with Venice on Tuesday. The Indians rolled to a sweep.
"It's hard to open with Venice," Hinkle said. "But (the Canes) did well."
Paige Pierro, Taylor Jones and Shelby Knox are the seniors, and Hinkle is hoping the three can help carry Manatee to another county title.
Manatee hosts the tournament this year, to be played Friday, Sept. 18 and Saturday, Sept. 19. Friday's action will take place at Bayshore.
"It's a rebuilding year for us, hands down," Hinkle said."I think we have to take a more work-in-progess approach."