High School Sports

WELLBORN — If Wellborn volleyball player Latoya Ellington were president for a day, she'd definitely make a change to volleyball rules.

"I just wish you could hit it four times," Ellington said. "Why hit just three times? I know it's the rules and I can't change it. I just want to hit four times."

That would definitely make the ever-dangerous Ellington even more so. The 5-foot-10 Wellborn junior is The Star's reigning player of the year, and will be a force to be reckoned with this weekend in the Calhoun County tournament, which begins Saturday at White Plains.

She leads the Panthers with 321 kills, 146 blocks, 37 assists, 57 digs and 49 aces. The Panthers are 25-19 entering the weekend.

Wellborn coach Amanda Haynes quickly attributes much of the Panthers' success to the abilities and leadership skills of Ellington. Her "big" personality seems to carry her team, at times.

"She's got natural leadership ability," Haynes said. "The kids respond and follow her. When she's up, we win. She's loud, and she's proud. We have a lot of fun off her. She has a spark, an energy, that's infectious. When she slams a ball down and gets up, our whole team goes up."

Ellington can't help but acknowledge her excitability on the volleyball court.

"Oh, yeah. I can't help it," Ellington said. "I get really excited if I get a good kill or someone's talking on the other side."

Nothing like some trash talking to get a player fired up. In addition to that kind of talking, Ellington said she's constantly talking to her teammates.

"I try not to get mad on the court," Ellington said. "I try to just keep talking to keep the team up. I'm really goofy. I like making people laugh. If nobody's having fun, I've got to make them laugh."

Haynes, a first-year coach, laughs when she remembers walking into the job and everyone pointing out what kind of player she had in Ellington. Those skills and abilities aren't easy to find.

"Her specialty is the kill," Haynes said. "She can block at the net and kill. She's a front-row specialist. It's not just her height. It's her ability to read a play. She's keyed into what's going on on the other side. She knows she doesn't always have to kill it. Sometimes, she just dinks it, too.

"It's being smart about the game."

Ellington's foray into volleyball started in the seventh grade, thanks to hero worship of her older sister, Shaneka, someone Ellington says she's looked up to her entire life. By the time she reached eighth grade, Ellington was in love with volleyball. Now, it's her passion. It's evident as she talks with pride about making a kill or getting a serve in or making a nice pass or dig.

"I want to play volleyball as much as I can," Ellington said. "It's exciting. You're moving all the time."

During the Olympics, Ellington was virtually entranced by all the volleyball on the television. She said it helped cement her desire to continue playing.

"She has big dreams," Haynes said. "Her life revolves around volleyball. She eats, sleeps, and dreams it. She thrives on it."

Ellington has her heart set on playing volleyball at the University of Alabama. Her brother, Courtney, graduated from there.

In the meantime, she'll continue to pursue more immediate goals, such as the tournament and retaining her MVP crown.

"I want to shoot for the gold, get big stuff," Ellington said.

She's well on her way.