Kaylea Beck and the rest of the Lady Rebel volleyball team have a chance to accomplish great things this fall. Hays lost only three seniors off of last year’s playoff team. (Photo by Cyndy Slovak-Barton)
by JASON GORDON
The Hays volleyball team will be a group full of players with varsity experience this fall.
After getting knocked out of the playoffs in the first round each of the last two years, head coach Erica Walther is confident her team won’t have that occur this season.
“I think we can contend for the district title and do well once we get to the playoffs,” Walther said. “That’s definitely our goal and I think we have the players that can get us there. They are really a great group of hard working kids.”
The Lady Rebels only lost three seniors off of last year’s team and will return setter Hannah Ramsey, outside hitter Kaylea Beck, outside hitter Kelsea Sadler, middle blocker Emily Clark, outside hitter Natalie Valdez, outside hitter Dezaray Garner, libero Lauren Burke, middle blocker Rachel Normand and defensive specialist Stephanie Ellis.
In addition, talented sophomore outside hitter Sydney Paradeaux will give the Lady Rebs more fire power on the front line.
“Our strength will not only be our starting lineup but our depth,” Walther said. “We’ll have a lot of strong players that have varsity experience and some good ones coming up from JV.”
Walther was very pleased with the way her team worked in the offseason this spring.
“We absolutely got stronger in the offseason,” Walther said. “We did a lot of strength and conditioning work in our class, and some are even attending a power camp this summer. We’re looking great as a team.”
Walther said most of her players are on club teams this summer, which she feels is a must to build a strong high school program.
“A couple of the girls are on club teams that qualified for nationals,” Walther said. “The competition at the varsity level is so strong across the board now, especially in our district, that you really need to play as much volleyball as you can year round.”
Sadler, who will be a senior this season, agreed Hays will be in great shape once the season begins in August.
“We’re coming back strong with many returning starters,” Sadler said. “There’s an intense competitive attitude on our team and everybody has the same goal of breaking our streak of losing in the first round of the playoffs. The seniors know the only option for us is to go far in the playoffs. We’re planning on leaving our mark on the Hays volleyball program. I’m very excited to see what this season will bring.”
Hays starts two-a-day practices on August 1. The Lady Rebels will play the likes of defending state champion Lake Travis, regional power Dripping Springs, and will compete in the ultra-competitive Fraulein Volleyfest tournament in New Braunfels during non-district action.
“We have a tough non-district schedule like always,” Walther said. “But that’s what it takes to get ready for a district with teams like Smithson Valley, Canyon and Alamo Heights. It also makes you that much stronger when you get to the playoffs.”
