SCOTS OVERCOME BAD FIRST SET AGAINST WAKELAND
By Chuck Licata, Big Daddy Media CEO/Volleyball Insider
Two teams, two new coaches.
Two volleyball programs with high expectations.
Justin Waters took over the Walnut Grove Wildcats and was pretty clear he expects his team to reach its goals. You already know that, of course, because you read the Cover story in the GMSportsMedia volleyball magazine (if you haven’t secured your copy, be sure to check the web site for information).
Sean McMurry took over the vaunted Lovejoy Leopards program to start the season. The team was loaded with talent. McMurry told us while he was excited to take over the legendary program, he expected the Leopards to continue their winning ways.
Both squads entered their District 9-5A clash at Walnut Grove last Friday (Sept. 19), both ranked in the TGCA poll Top 10 (Lovejoy #8, Walnut Grove #3).
It was an electric atmosphere at Walnut Grove and the hometown fans got the taste of victory – in a playoff-style five-set win (20-25, 25-18, 25-22, 19-25, 15-12). The Wildcats improved to 4-0 in 9-5A play (and 23-6 overall) while Lovejoy dropped to 3-1 (and 22-9 overall).
“It was a battle,” Waters told me afterwards. “We struggled to produce on the outside and in the middle, so we put the whole match on our right sides, and they stepped up.
“Our block was getting great touches to slow down their offense; we were able to capitalize on the momentum when we had it.”
Dani Whittmire, one of the state’s Top 10 players, reached 1,000 career kills with 19 (on a jaw-dropping .378 hitting percentage) against Lovejoy. The stellar setter-hitter who’s headed to Penn State next year also dished out 28 assists and completed a triple-double with 10 digs. Senior Mia Evans chipped in 27 assists while sophomore Katherine Clegg smoked the Lovejoy defense for 22 kills on .405 hitting.
Highland Park Beats Wakeland: Defending 5A, Division II champion Wakeland, under first-year coach Ally Cobb, dominated the first set, pummeling Highland Park by a 25-12 count. Unfortunately for Wolverines’ fans, that was their only victory all night. Michael Dearman’s Scots came back to sweep the next three sets – 25-18, 25-22 and 26-24.
The win kept Highland Park (4-0 in 15-5A, 26-8 overall) tied with Reedy for first in 12-5A; Wakeland (2-2, 16-6) sits in third.
“We have a saying; Scotties find a way,” Dearman told me Saturday. “That’s we did last night.
Besides coming back from the first set shellacking, we were down 17-7 in the fourth set. When you’re down 17-7, your chances of coming back are almost nothing. We had to go all-out and be super aggressive at that point; we weren’t coming back by playing It safe. We put the pedal to the medal and it worked!”
Keep in mind: The Scots are playing without two of their best players – 6-foot-4 junior Allie Hudgins, who’s been out since the NISD tournament back in August; and, 6-3 sophomore Sarah Floyd, the lefty outside hitter who went out two weeks ago. The Scots may see both players back before the playoffs.
“We’ve got players playing who may not be seeing as much time on the court as they normally would, and they are stepping up,” Dearman said about his team “I’m really proud of the overall effort of all our players.”
Rachel Buckley notches 100th win as a head coach: Rachel Buckley didn’t even know she was close to collecting her 100th coaching win as her team hosted Little Elm.
But after her squad swept Little Elm, Buckley got a nice surprise; her coaching staff and players broke out the banner announcing her century-mark victory.
“The outpour of love and support I received was really cool,” declared Buckley, who talked to me from a friend’s wedding in Wisconsin over the weekend. “My assistant made it all happen. It was very surreal.
“It feels like a weird stat to take any praise for – it’s the players who are out on the court and making it happen. I’m just on the sidelines.”
In case you weren’t aware – Buckley is not only a Hebron alum, but she was a contributing member of the program’s 2010 5A state title team.
“This is all very surreal; to get 100 wins at Hebron – following in the steps of my former coach, Karin Keeney – is such an honor. And getting win #100 is a bit of a spark I needed to, and it’s helped light a fire under the girls as well.”
The Hawks better keep that first – they’re 4-0 in 5-6A but tied with Jamie Siegel’s Flower Mound Jaguars, who have won 13 matches in a row and also sit at 4-0 in district.
Elsewhere in the DFW area: Byron Nelson continues its winning way. Bri Groth’s Bobcats are still undefeated on the season, weighing in a 7-0 in 4-6A play as well as 27-0 overall.. The Mansfield Tigers (4-0 in 3-6A, 35-1) have just one loss on the season – to state-ranked Aledo back on August 22 – and have won 19 in a row after a four-set victory over Weatherford.. Aledo beat Brock in four sets on Friday, but it was the coaching sidelines that was highlight. The two coaches- Claire Gay of Aledo and Nick Gay of Brock – are not only married, but have combined for over 1,000 career coaching victories. Unofficially, it’s the first time in UIL history that scenario has taken place in a UIL volleyball match.
