JOUST AT THE NET COLUMN BY CHUCK LICATA, GMSPORTSMEDIA VOLLEYBALL INSIDER
According to Google search, a Redhawk is “a sacred bird considered a messenger from the spirit world, a protector, and a guide.”
Monday night at Rock Hill High School in Prosper, the Liberty Redhawks (Frisco ISD) weren’t the protectors or guides on the volleyball court. Coach Eighmy (pronounced “Amy”) Dobbins and her Liberty High School volleyball players scored the biggest victory in program history.
These Redhawks, playing in the UIL Regional Finals for the first time in the program’s existence, handled 10-time state champion Lovejoy in straight sets: 28-26, 25-10, 25-23. The victory propelled Liberty (35-4) over the Leopards (32-14) and into the Class 5A, Division II state semifinals against the winner of Tuesday’s Argyle/Grapevine matchup.
That semifinal will take place at 4 p.m. at Rock Hill High School – yes, the same place Liberty etched its name into the school history book on Monday night.
Oh – did we mention Dobbins is an alum of Argyle, the team favored to win against Grapevine on Tuesday night?
Irony.
You want irony? The last part of the definition of a Redhawk reads as such: “Its appearance can be seen as a sign of guidance, strength, or that a period of clarity or change is coming.”
The changing of the guard is here: these Redhawks, who have been ranked in the TGCA top 10 for most of the year – and spent a couple weeks at #1 – are here to stay.
“I’m so proud of them!” Dobbins screamed as we talked about the victory Monday night. “We prepared hard for this match; we spent a lot of time watching film and working on (rotations).
“Knowing how much work the girls put in, they deserve this. This is an older group; these girls have gone through so much hurt in previous playoff appearances in tough-luck losses. Now that we won, I was so excited that the hard work paid off for them!”
The scores were totally indicative of each set in the match. Liberty actually overcame a 17-13 deficit in Set 1, and the two teams battled back and forth at the end until the Redhawks outlasted the Leopards.
Set 2 was just as dominant as the score indicated.
“We got out to a lead pretty early and just kept it going,” Dobbins recalled. “And what was so impressive was the girls just kept the foot on the gas. That showed me a lot about us.”
But Lovejoy showed its championship mettle and wouldn’t go away in Set 3. In fact, the Leopards held a 17-14 lead. But back came the Redhawks; they’d eventually grab a 21-19 lead before seeing the set tied at 23-23. After a Jaiden Harris kill put the Redhawks at match point (24-23), Lovejoy took a time out. But it was all for naught as Harris planted one from the left pin, and Lovejoy’s return went out.
“I was just stunned – and excited!” Dobbins exclaimed after her team clinched match point.
Welcome to the Period of Change – Redhawks’ style.
