GREENVILLE — The Washington volleyball team participated in the 2014 J.H. Rose Prep Challenge on Saturday at the Coastal Plains Volleyball Club.

With the high school season starting on Monday, the event showcased some of the best local squads in the area, giving each a preseason opportunity to scrimmage against real varsity talent.

Beginning at 8:30 a.m., eight teams competed in three, continuous 50-minute matches. Every team received a timeout and the constant play forced each coach to rotate in their whole team, giving every player proper playing time.

“I was so proud of my girls, especially because we were the smallest school here by far,” said head coach Kelly Slade. “I think they did a really good job and were very versatile because I put them in three or four different lineups. I asked a whole lot from them today just to try out new rotations and see how they work.”

Hosted by J.H. Rose head coach Norman Cabacar, Greenville’s D.H. Conley and South Central were also in attendance, while Washington, New Bern, Fike, Triton and Hunt made up the visiting teams.

The Pam Pack opened the challenge and had their hands full against a quality South Central squad. Being the only 2-A high school at the venue, Washington battled and tested most of its projected lineups. Some were successful, some were not, but the competition alone gave Slade the chance to pinpoint minor rotational issues.

“Transitions. I still think we’re getting caught in transition time a lot, not getting where we need to go,” Slade said. “And just cohesiveness — working together and communication — we need to spend some more time on that. It’s the beginning of the season, so we just need time for the girls to jell, so we can make some final decisions on positions then practice in those positions. But today was an excellent opportunity to see everybody on the team in different roles.”

The match of the day came against second-year head coach Tori Bennett’s New Bern Bears at 11:30 a.m. The Bears, coming off an impressive 15-8 record and third-place finish in the competitive Eastern Carolina Conference, brought an arsenal of heavy hitters to the table that kept the Pam Pack on the defensive.

Washington’s defense, however, is shaping up to be one of its strong suits, as senior Adriana Tyson came up with a handful of blocks down the stretch.

Washington finished the day with a 1:30 p.m. game against Hunt. Again, Tyson and senior Abby Walker supported their teams with consistent play.

“They were really the staple of the front and were setting the pace for everybody else,” Slade said. “They just did a really good job with those teams that had really good hitters and really good blockers, and I think they matched up with them pretty well. Allison Brantley, whether she is setting or whether she is playing defense, she just had a phenomenal defensive game.”

The Pam Pack open up their season at home against Rocky Mount on Monday.