COURTLAND—Southampton High School Head Volleyball Coach Amy Davis said a couple of her girls squealed with excitement when they found out they had been awarded VHSL all-district and all-conference nods.

Eve Robertson and Emma Drake received First Team All-District, Jenna Billups Second Team All-District and Peyton Bunn received an Honorable Mention for the TriRivers District. Robertson also received Second Team All-Conference and Drake an Honorable Mention for 3A Conference 25.

“I think it kind of topped off my senior season — I was really excited,” said Robertson, who lives in Holland. “OK, I was extremely excited,” she added hen after her coach chimed in on her reaction.

Bunn readily admitted that she was one of the girls who squealed with excitement, and Drake owned up to being the other one after being sold out by her friend.

“I was very excited and surprised to receive an award as a freshman,” said Drake, who resides in Newsoms. “I felt like I had a good year starting off playing varsity, but I didn’t think I did well enough for an award.”

“I was in shock,” Bunn, a junior, added. “It had never crossed my mind that it could happen. I was proud of myself for what I could do, even though I thought I could do better.”

Billups, a junior, was also surprised because she played two positions this year and didn’t think her stats would be up to par.

“At the beginning of the season, I was a setter, which I hadn’t played before and had to work harder,” the Black Creek native said. “Then I switched back to hitter, and I thought I did better with that.”

Next season, regardless of what position she plays, Billups said she was going to work harder. She’s also participating in the local Blackwater Volleyball travel team.

“I don’t know if I’ll be hitting or setting, but I just want to get better and improve my game to help my team,” she said.

Bunn said she’d be on the Blackwater team, too, and she’s excited for her senior year as a Lady Indian.

“I want to continue to have a good time and continue to encourage my teammates,” the Newsoms native said. “And come out playing stronger.”

Drake’s going to play for a national travel volleyball team, the Virginia Beach Elite.

“I am so excited about that, and also slightly scared,” she said, as she’ll be traveling to places including New Orleans and Atlanta. As far as next year, “I want to be a good leader on the volleyball team and continue to progress academically. Go Indians!”

Robertson’s a senior who is applying to Utah State and Brigham Young University. She’s also got an offer to play volleyball at Virginia Wesleyan. She did have some advice for her teammates.

“Enjoy the years that you have left,” Robertson said. “The end time is there before you realize it.”

Davis said Robertson was kind of like the quarterback for her team.

“She was the leader,” she said. “What we are really going to miss from Eve is how encouraging she was to the other players, both JV and varsity. She was always up beat and cheering them on in practice and in games.”

Coming out as a freshman, Drake did a great job.

“Sometimes I forgot she was a freshman,” Davis said. “She plays at a much higher level than most freshman. She hopes to play Division I college volleyball. It’s a lot of work to achieve that, but I think she is on the right track. I’m looking for big things for her future.”

Bunn’s role is the team’s libero, and Davis hopes to see her step it up and become the best one in the district.

“Peyton brings a great amount of energy to the court, and she’s an incredible hustler who will go for any ball, even if it hurts to dive for it,” she said. “And volleyball is a game of momentum, and she keeps everyone else up beat. She brings an incredible amount of enthusiasm and positive energy to the team.”

Next year, the coach wants Billups to take Robertson’s role as the team leader.

“She’s a great all-around player,” Davis said. “Her court awareness and decision making on the fly make her a big asset, and we need her to be on the court at all times.”