CULLMAN, Ala. – Cold Springs’ Miranda Dykes is now a junior, and despite being a young team last year, the Lady Eagles constantly improved throughout the season, a trend Miranda hopes to see continue throughout 2026. The Lady Eagles focused on a lot of things during the summer, and that helped them out in so many ways.
“I think for such a young team, we definitely improved, and overall found a rhythm together that worked well. From the beginning of the season to the end of the season, there was growth and improvement. We had some hard trials in our season on not giving up and finishing to the last point, but we learned to not give up. What we are carrying into this season is that we are strong enough as a team to win more games,” Dykes said. “This year’s summer workouts focused on skills and getting stronger as a team. The summer games gave us competitive practices and preparations for this season, and overall, it gave us learning lessons on how we can improve for this season. What the team took away from the summer is that hard work and dedication is what it takes to succeed. The summer taught us that it takes resilience and determination to get to your goals, and we try to have that mindset when we do anything that involves volleyball, whether it’s practice or games.”
Miranda’s been having so much fun with her teammates and coach so far, and she’s blessed to have coach Kate Peek in her life.
“It’s been a blessing to have the relationships that I’ve formed with my teammates and my coach. Volleyball has given me the opportunity to look up to and learn from coach Kate Peek as a mentor. We’re often reminded that we are a family, and we aren’t just friends, but sisters,” Dykes said. “Coach Peek has never once shied away from helping me grow as not only a player, but as a person. She’s shown me what it’s like to be a leader and a Christian. Coach Peek has an incredible patience and understanding when it comes to losses and mistakes, but she also has the faith and stubbornness to push us into being our best selves. I’m so thankful that coach Peek came to Cold Springs my freshman year and has been a very important part of my journey in volleyball.”
Miranda added, “Coach Peek has taught me how to perform better and how to lead by example for my teammates. Through the years, I’ve learned how to be better at my position in volleyball, and how I can encourage my teammates and younger players to develop the same skills.”
It will be a veteran group this season, and the upperclassmen helped out the younger players with so many different things during the summer. Cold Springs even held their own kids’ camp this year, and doing that meant a lot to not only the team but to the younger girls that went to the camp and to future campers that want to attend the camp next year and beyond.
“We’ve helped them out by holding practices and scrimmages against each other to hopefully improve their skills as well. We practice with all kids grades 7-12 during the summer, and we even held our own kids’ camp to hopefully inspire the next generation of players to have heart and devotion to the game. It’s very special, because not only does it help the kids, but it also gives the older ones a chance to be a light and leader to others. It’s so amazing seeing the kids learn the game.” Dykes said.
Cold Springs only had one senior on last year’s team, Cheyenne Bishop, and she helped out the team in so many areas last year. Miranda took away so many things from her, and this year’s senior, Kelsy Wilson, has been a great leader so far for the Lady Eagles.
“Cheyenne was a very kind and compassionate leader who helped by encouragement and support. What I learned from her is that it’s important, even in frustrating times with more losses than wins, to not give up and to have faith in yourself and your team,” she said. “Kelsy’s been an amazing teammate and outstanding leader for us so far. She was one of our team captains last year and has been a very big aspect to our team in skill and leadership. She keeps the team laughing with her high energy and bright mind. Kelsy has taught us that carrying a good attitude into games will pay off incredibly. She has also taught us that it takes time and effort to become your best version of yourself as a player.”
She has some goals set for herself and for the team in 2026, and God has played a critical part in not only her volleyball career but her life as well.
“My goals for this season is to keep a positive mindset, play as hard as I can every game, and inspire my teammates to do the same. My team’s goal would be to hopefully place in area, and make our way to state. We have more competition this year in our area games, now that Carbon Hill has joined our area. Our smaller goals for ourselves is to overall be better this season,” she said. “Well, every day so far, God has blessed me by waking me up each morning. I want my life to represent His glory, so in everything I do, I put Him first. In volleyball, we pray before or after practice, and that helps keeps our minds on the end goal to do it for Christ. In my life, God has given me blessing after blessing. I moved to Cold Springs in the seventh grade and started playing volleyball in the eighth grade. Moving schools was different and scary, but now, I thank God, because it has opened so many doors. He has given me life-long relationships with my friends and church family.
Miranda added, “Faith has played a very important role in the team’s progression. We do things to make sure that we keep God our main focus. We have team meals on home game days, and someone from a church will come talk to us. We pray for each other before the games. We also do our own Bible studies some mornings before school. Overall, this has brought us closer as sisters in Christ.”
She has so many role models that she looks up to, and she wants to be that kind of role model, not only for the younger players on the team, but also for the girls that watch her and her teammates play.
“My role models are coach Peek, Hagen Ellis, and Kelsy Wilson. I also like to watch college volleyball, so I look up to those girls, and I hope to, one day, get there and play for a college. Coach Peek means so much to me, because she’s been my coach for most of my volleyball career. This is my second year being a teammate with Kelsy, and she came in determined for our team to get better. I’ve played with Hagen since middle school. I can’t brag on her enough. She doesn’t let her emotions show on the court when it’s not going well. All of them mean so much to me and have left such a special impact on my life,” she said. “It’s so incredibly important to be a good role model to younger girls, because I remember what it was like to be a little girl, and I would also look up to the older girls. I know that they are always watching, so that’s why it’s important for me to be my best self for them.”
A couple of her favorite Bible verses and a trio of her favorite worship songs has completely changed Miranda’s life.
“I have two favorite Bible verses. The first one is Jeremiah 29:11: ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope,’ and my second one is Romans 6:23: ‘For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.’ These two verses remind me that God has everything in control, and as long as I am a faithful and devout Christian, He will also stay faithful to me. My favorite songs are Oceans by Hillsong United and Love Broke Thru by TobyMac. I grew up on these songs, and they mean a lot to me. The song Gratitude by Brandon Lake is very important to me as well. I can always feel God’s presence when worshipping Him.” she said.
She has taken away some important things during her walk with the Lord, and she’s excited to get out onto the court this season with her teammates.
“I’ve learned that being a Christian isn’t supposed to be treated like a chore. It means to have an intimate connection with God,” she said. “I’m most excited about being an upperclassmen, and hopefully, a role model to the girls around me.”
The Eagles opened their season with a 2-0 loss to West Point, but will get a chance to bounce back at Falkville on Tuesday night.
