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Coach Jennifer Bramlett
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Bramlett has always pieced together a rough pre-season slate of games in hopes of preparing her squad for the district schedule and eventual playoff picture. As a result, her teams are typically .500 at best when district rolls around.
“We are just a few plays away from having won some pretty big games,” said Bramlett, whose team was 3-7 entering this past weekend’s Lewisville Tournament. “We seem to always be .500 going into district play. Sure, I want to win more games, but I want to challenge my teams in the preseason.”
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Pictured is LCS player Betsy Smith (9) pounding the ball in game play.
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Head coach Lisa Deaver said this past week it’s too early to tell just how good this year’s group -- which returns six starters from a year ago -- can be. But one thing is for sure, her players are as invested as they’ve ever been in recapturing the spark that led them to TAPPS state tournament finals appearances in 2006 and 2007. Liberty won its first and only state title in 2006 under Deaver.
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aylee Fifier, a Guyer Wildcat volleyball standout, signs with Colgate University.
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Kaylee Fifer admits she has a rather unconventional relationship with her mother.
The Guyer standout – who recently signed to play volleyball at Colgate University -- has a court set up in her backyard, and every so often she plays against her mom, Allison. Allison, by the way, was once a standout at Texas Tech.
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Marcus junior Michelle Wise (7) making a shot.
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Marcus head volleyball coach Cristie Liles is excited about the prospects of this year’s District 6-5A race, which begins this Friday at home against rival Lewisville. But she’s not expecting an easy road.
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Marcus junior Mallori Sando (6) setting up a shot for senior Haley Neisler (2).
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Marcus volleyball coach Cristie Liles is not impressed with her team heading into this weekend’s key preseason tournament at Pearland.
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FMHS Macey Singleton (10) looks to score in Flower Mound’s victorious season opener.
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It was a typical up and down season opener, but the Flower Mound volleyball team fought through every obstacle to sweep Justin Northwest on Tuesday night.
The 25-23, 25-18, 25-21 win gives the team confidence yet a few minor kinks to work out heading into this weekend’s Duncanville Tournament. The team will open the event against Amarillo.
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Denton Guyer senior Ashley Mcentire (15) in last season's game against Plano.
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Guyer volleyball coach Jennifer Bramlett wasn’t impressed with her team’s opening night. And she said this weekend won’t be any easier.
The Wildcats will open play at the Westwood Warriors Varsity Showcase in Round Rock this weekend. The second-annual event features some of the top talent in the state, including programs like defending champion Westwood, Reagan and Churchill to name a few. Guyer, however, is coming off being swept by Colleyville Heritage and Mansfield Legacy on Tuesday.
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Marcus junior Haley Neisler (2) reaching for a shot.
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After two-consecutive trips to the third round of playoffs, the Marcus volleyball team enters the 2009 season with a younger roster and similar expectations.
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Denton Guyer Kaylee Fifer (7) sets up the ball in gameplay last season.
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Guyer volleyball coach Jennifer Bramlett doesn’t mince words.
“It would be a gross disappointment if what happened to us last year happened again,” Bramlett said of her team’s second-round playoff exit. “We are on a mission now; this year’s group has put a lot into preparing for this season.”
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Marcus High School junior Rachel Boyd (4) warming up.
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Even after losing to Coppell on Tuesday, Marcus volleyball coach Cristie Liles is excited about her team’s chances in this year’s Class 5A playoff race.
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Marcus junior Mallori Sando (6) serving against Arlington.
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The Marcus volleyball team fell to 16-10 overall after losing to Highland Park on Tuesday.
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FMHS Liz Theesfeld (2) returning a serve.
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Some of the top volleyball programs from across the state will converge on Houston this weekend at the annual Pearland Volleyball Tournament.
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Marcus junior Michelle Wise (7) making a shot against Arlington.
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Playing in its brand new gymnasium, the Marcus volleyball team trounced rival Arlington 25-16, 25-16, 25-9 on Tuesday in the season opener for both programs.
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Liberty Christian volleyball coach Lisa Deaver is excited about the 2009 season, but won’t give up too much information on how her team will approach it.
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FM Volleyball player, Annie Aspenson (3), in a game last season.
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Flower Mound felt the next logical step to its previous two playoffs berths was to take a trip deep into last year’s postseason. Not only did that not happen, but the Jaguars missed playoffs entirely.
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Marcus senior Kaleigh Wright (1) reaching for the ball.
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The Marcus volleyball team rallied back from a 2-0 deficit to force a fifth and decisive game in its Class 5A Region I Quarterfinal against Plano East on Tuesday. But in the end, the Panthers pulled it out.
The 21-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-16, 17-19 loss means Plano East will advance to the Regional semis on Friday while Marcus bows out in the third round of playoffs for the second-consecutive season.
“I am very proud of how the girls fought,” Marcus head coach Cristie Liles said. “It was a good season and they fought the entire way. We had our opportunities tonight but we didn’t take advantage.”
