Since the 2009-2010 season, the Argyle volleyball team has played in 15 playoff games, reached the regional quarterfinals three times, the regional semifinals once and the state tournament once.
This season, the Lady Eagles have made it their mission to return to the state tournament and finish what they started the last five years in a row—to bring home the school’s first ever state title in the sport of volleyball.
Coach Clark Oberle said he has been impressed with how well his team has played early on this season and said, while it is early to tell whether or not Argyle is ready for a run at a state championship this season, the Lady Eagles have been knocking on the door for quite some time.
“We’re off and running, and we’re playing a tough schedule,” Oberle said. “Our record isn’t real good, because were playing mostly 4A schools, but we’re competing and holding our own, and we are starting to come around.”
Argyle went 35-10 last season with a perfect 8-0 district record and reached the state semifinals before losing to eventual state champions Abilene Wylie in a match that went five games.
Oberle said while his team has a number of objectives along the way this season, getting over the hump with a state championship victory would be a huge accomplishment for his team and something for which the Lady Eagles continue to strive.
“A state title is always in the back of our mind,” Oberle said. “Making it to state last year for the first time, the girls liked that. It was a lot of fun, and to get so close to the finals and not win it, that is definitely motivating them to get back this year. They would definitely like to get back there and get another shot.”
Argyle returns seven lettermen and five starters from last year’s team, and Oberle believes that his team needs to improve in one area in particular to have another strong run through the post-season.
“We’ve got a lot of our hitters back,” Oberle said. “So offensively, I think we are strong and will have everything in place this month. Defensively, I think we need to improve to make that kind of run again. We need to keep the ball off the floor on our side to get back.”
Brooke Robertson was the lone Argyle player selected to the All-State Tournament team and earned first team all state honors for the Lady Eagles in 2012.
The senior outside hitter/defensive specialist said she believes that this year’s team is extremely strong and poised to make another good run in the playoffs.
“I think we are looking really good so far,” Robertson said. “We’ve got a lot of strong players that are back from last year and some people that have moved in, so I think altogether, we are going to be almost unstoppable… and in the long run, we want a ring, and that’s what we’re working hard to do this year.”
Robertson said she does see Abilene Wylie as Argyle’s biggest challenge to winning a state championship this season.
Laine Lowry believes that one of the strongest aspects of this year’s team is the camaraderie that exists among all of the squad’s players.
“This is one of the best team chemistry’s I have ever been a part of,” Lowry said. “Most years, we have drama with one or two of the girls. This year, it seems like every girl gets along and we are always having fun and working together.”
The senior libero said the determination the Lady Eagles feel to win the state’s top prize is almost palpable.
“Last year, we were expecting to win a state championship, and I think that just pushes our determination and work ethic to drive us to do even better this year,” Lowry said.
As of the most recent Texas Girls Coaches Association poll, the Argyle girls are ranked sixth in the state.
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