MIDDLEBURG - Middleburg High coach Carrie Prewitt has a little extra umph! in her step these days, maybe from hours of hiking through mountains, but probably with the realization that her 30-plus years of volleyball coaching prowess in on its curtain call this season.

“Final year for me, yes,” said Prewitt, during a quick conversation as she surveyed the third of three days of tryouts for her Lady Broncos volleyball team. “My assistant, Meredith Forkum, is set to take over next year and will keep the Bronco traditions going as she is a former standout player for me.”

Prewitt returns to the floor after a strong 18-11 season last year, a district runnerup finish to those pesky Panthers at Ridgeview High and two playoff games; a win over Stanton Prep and a loss to eventual Class 5A champions Mosley High in the region semifinals. Mosley also knocked out Ridgeview in the region final.

“The girls know that I know that this is my final year,” said Prewitt, who has a handful of Final Four finishes in her 38 years of coaching, but hinted of a final year chase. “I think it motivates all of us to have tough practices. These are tough kids willing to work hard.”

Prewitt returns a stellar field of seniors from that team with power hitters Allie Cox, Taylor Mills and Tamin Trott gone and Josie Bemus and Elizabeth Nolan two team leaders now departed.

“We do have five seniors back on the court; Cheyenne Campbell, Becca Staefe, Breanna Crickmore, Summer Repogle and Madelynn Kelley who have been big players for us for four years,” said Prewitt. “Connor Rahn, a junior, returns as our big hitter up front wiht 263 kills last year.”

Rahn was ahead of Trott and Mills at the net and Prewitt will need to find more firepower to keep double teams honest on defense. Brooke Forkum, as a freshman last year, delivered 116 kills behind the top three hitters.