The Liberty Christian and Coram Deo volleyball teams both qualified for the TAPPS state playoffs in 2009, and with a number of returning players from last year’s squads, both teams could be in for another strong season in 2010.
The following is a breakdown of each program and what each team can expect for the coming season.
School: Argyle Liberty Christian Lady Warriors
District: TAPPS 1-5A
Last Season: Finished with a record of (24-15 (8-5) and lost in the bi-district round to state tournament qualifier Dallas Christian.
Players to Watch: Betsy Smith and Sarah Stanley
Toughest District Opponents: Bishop Lynch, Trinity Christian and Prestonwood Christian
Outlook: The Liberty Christian volleyball team is moving up into the largest TAPPS district in the state this year, but coach Lisa Deaver is confident in her team’s ability to be competitive.
“It’s a pretty strong district,” Deaver said. “But we’ve got six returning starters, and we’re pretty excited about that, too. I feel like it is going to be a dogfight every time we step onto the court, and we’re ready for the challenge.”
Deaver said she believes it will take a couple of things for the Lady Warriors to repeat upon the success it enjoyed last season.
“We’re going to have to play as a team, and be balanced in our attack and defense,” Deaver said. “We’re just going to have to rely on one another.”
Analysis: While it will be difficult to dethrone Lynch, last year’s state champion, for the district title, Liberty Christian is a perennial powerhouse in the sport of volleyball and should be one of the last teams standing by the time the playoffs roll around.
The Lady Warriors are moving up a division, but look for them to make some noise in their new district.
School: Flower Mound Coram Deo Academy Lady Lions
District: TAPPS 2-3A
Last Season: Finished as the district runner-up and lost in the bi-district round to Lubbock Christian in five games.
Players to Watch: Holyn Duyck, Maddie Marr, and Brayden Beal
Toughest District Opponents: Lake Country Christian and Legacy Christian
Outlook: The Coram Deo volleyball team is coming off of a playoff season in 2009, and athletic director Donnie Brake said he is excited about the team’s chances this coming season.
“It’s going to be a little hard, because we lost two of our best players,” Brake said. “But we have two girls that are returning first team all-district players and one that was second team all-district.
“We have three starters returning, and we have some really good talent returning.”
Duyck and Marr were the two first-team selections, and Duyck, Marr and Beal are all sophomores.
“They’ve got a year of experience under their belt,” Brake said. “Holyn was Newcomer of the Year in the district last year, and she plays select volleyball, so she is a really good player.”
Analysis: Coram Deo did lose some fire power from last season with Kalin Hanna and Hannah Hicks graduating and headed to Howard Payne University, but they have a strong corps of returning players and should rival for a playoff spot.
The Lady Lions will welcome a new coach this season, who had not been named at the time this article was written, and with the right chemistry, it could be a good year for Coram Deo.
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