By Moses Leos III.
For the thirteenth straight season, the Hays High Lady Rebel volleyball team completed their year with a playoff appearance.
Hays’ Sundara Chinn and Melaine Harrington attempt to block a shot from a Dripping Springs player during their area round playoff match on Nov. 9. Hays volleyball saw their streak of consecutive playoff appearances extended to 13 in 2013. (Photo by Moses Leos III) |
Hays finished with a 29-16 record, making it to the area round where they fell to Dripping Springs, who advanced to the state tournament this week.
While 2013 fell one round shy of last year – Hays reached the regional quarterfinal round – head coach Erica Walther was pleased nonetheless.
She said the team had a good season and saw improvement as the year progressed.
The team was led by senior Sydney Paradeaux, who accrued 482 kills on the season. She was backed up by Kathryn Wristen, who aided the effort with 1,246 assists.
While Paradeaux and Wristen were the one-two combo for Hays’ offense, Walther saw progress from other players as well.
The play of sophomore Sundara Chinn, senior Melaine Harrington and junior Taylor Britton stuck in Walther’s mind.
Walther said Harrington was consistent all season, calling her the team’s “best server.” She said opponents matched up their liberos to combat her serving ability. Britton’s hitting ability was noticed all season, especially against Dripping Springs in the area playoff match.
“Taylor had her best swings of the season against Dripping Springs,” Walther said.
The play of Sundara Chinn made an impact as the year went on.
“She hit the ball well,” Walther said. “(Sundara) was hitting shots and seeing shots. As a lefty on the right side, she is very powerful.”
The goal of the season was to match up with Cedar Park, which had knocked Hays out of the playoffs in 2011 and 2012.
While the goal of matching up with Cedar Park fell short, Walther was pleased with the team’s effort. She also understood how tough opponents from 25-4A are. She felt 25 and 27-4A were the “strongest districts” in the area.
“[25-4A] is unbelievable. All four (playoff) teams got to the third round,” she said. “It’s a stacked district.”
Walther acknowledged it will be difficult to lose Paradeaux, who will play at Texas State next fall. In addition, the possible move to 5A looms on the horizon.
Despite those issues, she felt hard work and a commitment to get better will help the team thrive next year.
“The culture (of Hays volleyball) is good,” Walther said.
