ROBERTSDALE, Alabama – Robertsdale head volleyball coach Metta Roberts is looking for leaders.

Roberts’ Lady Golden Bears return three starters and three seniors this season, and she hopes that a few of them will step into a leadership role.

“I am looking for someone to lead this team,” Roberts said. “This can be vocal or by working hard. Once I find someone that is willing to take the bull by the horns, I feel like the rest of the kids will take on that same mentality. I’m hoping for that to happen sooner rather than later. These kids are very capable of being leaders, I look forward to seeing one emerge.”

Brooke McGhee, Bethany Coley and Victoria Creamer are back for the senior year, while returning starters Austin Richardson, Madeleine Petite and Beth Taylor are back from a team that advanced to a 6A regional tournament as the Area 4 tournament runner up last season.

Roberts said leadership will be the key for her team to get back to the regional round. Robertsdale last reached the Elite Eight in 2010.

“I hope that our players play well for starters,” Roberts said. “I would like for them to win an area championship, regional championship and get a trip to the Elite Eight.”

The Bears will once again compete in 6A Area 3 with rivals Foley, Daphne and Fairhope and add Baldwin County as a fifth competitor in the area after the AHSAA’s realignment.

They open the season on Thursday at Baldwin County at 5:30 p.m. and visit Satsuma for a tri-match with the host Gators and Mobile Christian at 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 28. Robertsdale’s first home match is against Daphne on Sept. 4 at 5:30 p.m. Roberts said the Bears are scheduled to play in six tournaments during the regular season.