Volleyball has come to Florala High School.

This fall will mark the first time that FHS has ever had a volleyball team. The Lady Wildcats’ first match is slated for late August.

FHS principal Donny Powell said the idea to start the volleyball program came from interested students.

“We just had some interest in the program,” Powell said. “There were a lot of girls that were interested in playing volleyball. Therefore, we started the program.”

Powell said that there will be only a varsity team this year.

“We hope maybe to add to that later,” he said.

The Lady Wildcats will be in the same area as Pleasant Home and Kinston in Class 1A, Area 2 through the 2012 season.

Florala will have around 12-13 matches this year, Powell said.

In addition, Joea McNeil will serve as the head coach.

“It will be a learning process for us this year,” Powell said. “And, we hope to get some more students interested for the upcoming school year.”

As of Thursday, Powell said there are nine players currently on the active roster, after a starting number of 11.

“We had 11 players, but we’ve lost two of those,” he said. “We’re going to try to keep around 11 players on the team.”

When asked what he is expecting to come from this year, Powell said they are similar to that of a new sport starting at any high school.

“You have your trials,” he said. “It’s not going to be the best season ever when you start your first year, but we’re just going to get started and hope to improve each year.”