Brandee Elliott hasn’t had much time to get to know her new volleyball team at Bob Hope.

Not two months have passed since she was hired at the Port Arthur school from Anahuac, and this was the first week high school volleyball teams in Texas could practice. With the first game looming, Elliott likes what she sees in her new team.

“I’ve learned that they’re very hard working,” she said Friday. “They don’t give up. They work through tough situations, like not having facilities like everyone else.”

Elliott’s Eagles competed in a multi-team scrimmage at Port Arthur Memorial on Friday, and the coach was pleased with their performance. Bob Hope is returning five of last year’s eight varsity players who qualified for their first playoffs in school history a year ago in Class 2A under Holly Marshall.

This season, the Eagles will compete in 3A.

“They are very resilient and are able to bounce back when given tough situations,” Elliott said. “They listen. They learn quickly. If they get frustrated, it’s only because they’re so competitive. That’s a good sign.”

Elliott’s high school coach, Hamshire-Fannett’s Debbie Peltier, helped with Bob Hope’s first-ever volleyball camp recently, and the camp enjoyed a successful turnout.  Elliott won’t have to wait long to see how the Eagles’ work in camp and in preseason practice will translate on the game floor, as they travel to High Island on Tuesday.

So far, she has an idea.

“I love the idea the girls give me everything they have,” Elliott said. “They want to be successful.”

Lighthouse Christian will visit Bob Hope on Aug. 12.

•

I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews