With volleyball season right around the corner for the girls of southern Denton County, hopes are high for what promises to be another exciting season on the hardwood.
Flower Mound, Marcus, Guyer, Argyle and Coram Deo all earned playoff berths in 2012 and won multiple playoff games along the way.
As most our teams have a number of returning players from last season, southern Denton County should make its mark in the world of post-season volleyball once again in 2013.
Flower Mound wrapped up 2012 with a 33-9 mark, finished second in district 5-5A competition and advanced to the regional quarterfinals.
With back to back state champion Coppell in the Lady Jaguars district, 2013 will be a hard row to hoe, but coach Marci Brinkman said she feels good about the direction her team is headed.
“I am feeling optimistic about our season this year, and the group that is returning to Flower Mound,” Brinkman said. “The group of returners we have, along with some younger ones coming up have the capability to continue a winning tradition at Flower Mound and build on last year’s success.”
Brinkman said she expects a number of players to provide leadership this season, including junior RS Elizabeth Boyd, who is in her third year as a varsity player.
“She was out most the season last year due to heart surgery, but came back at the end of district stronger than ever before,” Brinkman said. “She made an impact on the team during our playoff run as well. I expect her to be a go-to hitter on the court, and be a top blocker for the team. She has been working extremely hard, and is looking forward to being a leader this year.”
Brinkman said she also expects big seasons from junior setter Molly Werts, sophomore MB Lauren Cox, junior libero Kristyn Schott, senior DS Logan Kelly and senior OH Amy Sawyers.
Brinkman said Coppell is definitely the team to beat in district again this season, and said to repeat on the success it enjoyed in 2012 this year, it will take a couple of things for the Flower Mound team.
“The girls had a great example of what it means to play like a team from last year’s group, and they only want to build on that,” Brinkman said. “We will have to stay focused on our goals throughout the season, continue to communicate and work through any rough spots, and play on our strengths. There is no doubt in my mind that this group has the capability to make another long playoff run.”
Across town at Marcus, the Lady Marauders, too, earned a post-season berth in 2012, finishing fourth in district competition and advancing to the bi-district round.
Marcus coach Jennifer Cron agreed that Coppell is the team to beat in district this season and said she is confident in the leadership she has this year from her more experienced players.
“I expect big things from the six seniors I have coming into the 2013 season,” Cron said.
Cron did not name any players specifically, but look for good seasons from Tori Durney, Mackenzie Pearson, Sam Sales and Michelle Toro.
Marcus returns eight players from last year’s varsity squad, and Cron said because district competition is so stiff, she is not sure what it will take for Marcus to earn another post-season spot in 2013.
“No easy way to the playoffs in this district,” Cron said.
For the Guyer volleyball team, a trip to the area round in 2012 has the Lady Wildcats hungry for more this season, and with a second place finish in district competition last season, Guyer looks poised to pick up right where it left off in the 2013 campaign.
The Lady Wildcats will be led by last year’s 5-4A Newcomer of the Year, Micayla Yates, and will once again find its biggest challenge from Trophy Club Byron Nelson.
Look for Denton and Wichita Falls Rider to also field good teams this season.
Guyer finished with a 27-13 overall record last season and were bi-district champions.
Over at Argyle High School, coach Clark Oberle is excited about the Lady Eagles chances in 2013 following a trip to the state semi-finals in 2012, and the return of eight players with significant playing time from last season.
“I feel very optimistic about our upcoming season,” Oberle said. “We only graduated four from a very good team last season. We have a lot of offense coming back.”
Argyle won a district championship in 2012 with a 35-11 overall record, and Oberle said he expects Celina and Frisco Lone Star to be among the other teams to beat in 10-3A this season.
The Argyle coach said he has a few different players he is expecting big things from this year on both sides of the ball and said he has a strong corps of leadership as well.
“Brooke Robertson, Katy Keenan and Eighmy Dobbins will all be offensive threats while Laine Lowry should be great defensively,” Oberle said.
Oberle said for the Lady Eagles to repeat on the type of success it enjoyed in the 2012 season, it will boil down to two simple factors for the team this year.
“I feel that if we can play up to our capabilities and not beat ourselves, we should have a very successful season,” Oberle said.
The 2012 year proved to be a strong one for the Coram Deo volleyball team as well, as the Lady Lions advanced all the way to the state semi-finals.
Coram Deo defeated Amarillo San Jacinto Christian 3-1, and The Highlands School in Irving 3-1 in the post-season after receiving a first round bye in the playoffs.
The Lady Lions will be led by 2012 all-district selections Kayleigh Longcrier and Allyson Lewis in the 2013 campaign and should find its major competition from Lake Country and Calvary Christian.
