HOGANSVILLE – She’s ready to get back on the court.

Callaway High graduate Raechel Pike saw her freshman season on the LaGrange College volleyball team cut short because of an injury last year.

Despite that disappointment, Pike said she “had a lot of fun” being a part of a college team.

“I got injured in the middle of the season, so I couldn’t even practice,” she said. “But all of the people and all the coaches there were great.”

Pike, who was back at her old stomping grounds on Wednesday to help out at a volleyball camp at Callaway High, said she has been doing “a lot of working out to try to make sure I’m ready for the season.”

LaGrange College will begin a new season on Sept. 1 with a home match against Wesleyan.

The Panthers were 16-18 last season, which was their best record since they went 17-15 in 2011.

The 16 wins was also the second most wins the Panthers have had in a season since the 2005 team went 20-13.

Pike joined the LaGrange College team after an exceptional prep career at Callaway.

Pike said the transition was made somewhat smoother since she’d been working with LaGrange College coach Jamie Thomas for a while.

“In 10^th grade, coach Thomas at LaGrange started private practices with me,” Pike said. “So I was kind of used to how she taught and things like that. I was semi-used to it, but it’s still completely different coming from Callaway to college. But I did OK with it.”

Pike said she’s grateful that her parents will get a chance to continue to watch her play.

“My parents wanted to be able to see me every time,” Pike said. “They’re always there.”

When a new season kicks off, the Panthers should be positioned to make some major strides, with every player from last season’s team set to return, including junior Katie Chancellor, was an all-USA South player a year ago.

The Panthers won four of five games late in the season to get to .500 before finishing the season with losses to Covenant and Maryville.

Reach Kevin Eckleberry at (706) 884-7311 or on Twitter @lagrangesports