Hays head coach Erica Walther singled out Emily Clark’s leadership during the Lady Rebels’ run to the consolation-bracket finals at the Northside ISD tournament last weekend. Hays went on to beat Dripping Springs Monday night. (photo by Judy Cooper)
by JASON GORDON
Hays got its biggest volleyball win of the young season Monday night in its home opener in a 25-15, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20 victory over area power Dripping Springs Monday night.
Kaylea Beck returned from an injury to lead the Lady Rebels with 14 kills and 19 digs. Sydney Paradeaux had 13 kills and 11 digs, and Courtney Rogers had 30 assists. Emily Clark added 15 digs, and Stephanie Ellis and Rogers also had 10 digs to lead the Hays defensive charge.
“This is obviously a big win for us,” Hays head coach Erica Walther said. “Dripping Springs is a well coached program and they have a solid team year after year. I’m proud of the progress we’ve been making since practice started and this win is a reflection of that.”
Last weekend, despite playing without three of its six starters, the Hays volleyball team finished runner-up in the consolation bracket of San Antonio’s Northside ISD Tournament over the weekend.
Playing without starting setter Hannah Ramsey and starting outside hitter Natalie Valdez for the entire tournament, and starting outside hitter Beck for most of the tourney, the Lady Rebels played perennial Class 5A state power Churchill to within 25-21, 25-19 in a loss to open pool play.
“I think if we’d have been 100-percent healthy, we could have beaten Churchill,” Coach Walther said. “We played really well in that match.”
After a loss to Class 5A San Antonio Warren in pool play, Hays finally got on the winning track against San Antonio Southwest with a 25-17, 14-25, 25-17 win in pool play.
Paradeaux had nine kills and six digs, Clark had five kills and two blocks, and Rogers added 19 assists against Southwest.
On Saturday, Hays easily won its opening match in consolation-bracket play 25-19, 25-9 against Devine.
Paradeaux once again led the Lady Rebs with seven kills, while Rachel Normand and Clark added five kills each. Paradeaux and Clark led the blocking game at the net against Devine with four apiece.
The Lady Rebels next rolled through Somerset in a 25-11, 27-25 win to advance to the consolation-bracket finals.
Clark led Hays with six kills, while Dezaray Garner and Paradeaux added five kills apiece. Kelsea Sadler had four service aces against Somerset, while Rogers tallied 16 assists and three aces.
Hays’ three-match winning streak came to an end in the consolation-bracket finals against Class 5A Steele in a 25-16, 25-20 loss.
“I think we definitely need to get healthy, but the tournament was an excellent opportunity for our younger players to make a lot of strides and show what they can do on varsity,” Walther said. “I think senior Emily Clark stood out as well from a leadership standpoint. She was hitting, blocking, and passing the ball well and playing great defense. She also showed she can be a great leader, which is always something you want to see out of your seniors.”
The Lady Rebels will next play in the prestigious Fraulein Volleyfest Tournament in New Braunfels. The Fraulein Volleyfest is the second largest high school volleyball tournament in Texas.
The Lady Rebs will be paired in a pool with Georgetown, El Paso Franklin and McAllen. Hays will begin play at noon Thursday against Georgetown at Oak Run Middle School in New Braunfels. All of Hays’ pool play games will take place at Oak Run Middle on Thursday afternoon.
