by JASON GORDON
McKenzie Radzik is one of several varsity returning player that should give Hays a good chance to make a return trip to the playoffs this fall. (Photo by Joel San Miguel)
Despite the loss of several key players, Hays head volleyball coach Erica Walther is confident her team will contend for a playoff spot this fall.
After losing seniors Kelley Willcox, Melissa Butler, Trista Bullock and Iesha Baranovicht to graduation, and outside hitter Krista Koopmann, who moved after her mother took the head volleyball coaching job at China Spring, Walther is still left with many returning varsity players.
“It took awhile adjusting to the loss of five varsity members, but the last month of the school year a lot of good things happened,” Walther said. “The girls really came together and we started playing as a unit.”
Hays will get three starters back, outside hitter Kaylea Beck, middle blocker Emily Clark and middle blocker Jessica Williams, and will return four others from last year’s playoff squad. The other returners will be middle blocker/outside hitter Kelsea Sadler, libero Sarah Reyes, outside hitter Presley Collins and libero McKinzie Radzik.
“I’ve got some very good players coming back,” Walther said. “We worked on drills to get stronger and more powerful in the spring, and I really started to see that pay off the last few weeks.”
Hays will have several new players next season coming up from the freshman and junior varsity ranks, including sophomore setter Hannah Ramsey, who guided the JV as a freshman next season. Walther said Ramsey will be the starting setter on varsity in the fall.
“Hannah will have to step into a leadership role early, but she’s the kind of player you want as your setter,” Walther said. “She’s a great competitor and she loves to win.”
In fact, Walther is pleased with the progress of many of the young players in her program.
“The whole future of Hays volleyball is really looking promising,” she said. “The incoming group of freshmen has some real talent, and we have very strong programs at the middle school level right now. A lot of kids are really excited about volleyball.”
Walther knows Hays will have to be on top of its game this fall to grab a playoff spot competing in the new District 27-4A with the likes of Smithson Valley, New Braunfels Canyon, Alamo Heights and Clemens.
“Smithson valley coming down from Class 5A will definitely be the favorite,” Walther said. “There will be a good battle for those final three playoff spots. It will be nice to have consistent, competitive matches in district, though. That should help get everyone ready for the playoffs.”
Walther once again scheduled tough non-district matches against schools like Wimberley, Lake Travis, Austin High, and last year’s District 17-4A champion Elgin.
Hays will also play in the Westwood and New Braunfels High tournaments, before hosting its own Rebel Bash tourney.
Two-a-day workouts begin on Aug, 2. Hays opens the regular season with a home match against LaGrange on Aug. 10.
