2009 Lady Panthers & Region III-IV Volleyball News

[Martin DeBerry]

2009 Lady Panthers & Region III-IV Volleyball News

> Danbury downs Industrial
> Lady Panthers fall to Terry
> Volleyball Preview 2009
> Holcomb walks away from court

[Martin DeBerry]

Volleyball Preview 2009
Joel Luna ~ The Facts
August 16, 2009

With the 2009 high school volleyball campaign already off and rolling, a majority of the teams in Brazoria County are looking to extended their season into the playoffs.

Last year, only two county teams made the postseason. But this season, many more squads are looking to get into the mix to make a run at a district title and earn playoff berth.

A couple of new coaches will settle in. Danbury welcomes Melissa Hansen, and Jamie Lister replaces longtime Sweeny volleyball coach Stacy Holcomb.

Now about a week into the season, squads are still making decisions on starting positions and changes on the depth chart.

Tournament play and nondistrict action will continue through the end of this month as district play picks up for most mid-way through September.

The biggest tournament will be in Pearland Aug. 27-29 with the Nike Volleyball Classic. The nationwide showcase will feature 76 teams from across the state and beyond and will be played on four district four campuses and 10 courts.

Here is look at Brazoria County’s volleyball teams for the 2009 season:



ALVIN LADY ’JACKETS

Coach: Alison Kley (second year)

Last year’s record: 5-9 District 24-5A; 10-23 overall

Returning starters: 8 — Kailey Killingsworth, senior, right side; Shannon Kelso, junior, setter; Reagan Schoen, senior, libero; Brooke Stitt, senior, middle blocker; Becky Holden, junior, middle blocker; Shelbie Stannard, junior, defensive specialist; Kathryn Johnson, senior, outside hitter; Lindy Sewell, senior, defensive specialist

Newcomers: 5 — Jenna Paul, sophomore, outside hitter; Madelyn Johnson, sophomore, outside hitter; Justine Chapman, sophomore, middle blocker; Lisa Ivy, junior, right side; Emily Nelson, junior, right side

Strengths: “Team chemistry is definitely a strength this year,” Kley said. “The group of girls that are on varsity this year work well together on and off the court and are genuinely for one another. Another strength I feel is our offense. This year we have more players who we can go to when we need kills and it allows us to be more versatile than last year.”

District 24-5A: “The top four teams I feel will be Clear Lake, Clear Creek, Clear Brook and Alvin with Clear Springs, Dickinson, Brazoswood, and Ball not far behind.”

Quotable: “I feel that we have a good chance of claiming one of the playoff spots this year because we are stronger than last year, and the kids as well as the coaching staff have high expectations on what we can accomplish,” Kley said.



ANGLETON LADYCATS

Coach: Sondra Lahodny (13th year)

Last year’s record: 6-8 District 24-4A; 12-20 overall

Returning starters: 5 — Laura Pena, senior, setter/defensive specialist; Ebony Wright, senior, outside hitter; Andrea Carter, junior, middle blocker/backline; Ceteria Foster, junior, middle blocker/outside hitter; Vivian Galindo, junior, outside hitter/backline

Top Newcomers: 6 — Jordyn Ward, freshman, defensive specialist/outside hitter; Rachael Stanzel, junior, outside hitter; Kellie Johnston, sophomore, outside hitter; Jessica Wolf, junior, defensive specialist; Chianti Butler, junior, setter; Hannah Galloway, freshman, defensive specialist

Strengths: “One strength we have this year is our experience,” Lahodny said. “We have seven returning lettermen. Our setters and primary hitters are on their second year of working together and are working well to build a team chemistry with our newcomers. I am very impressed on how much our setters (Kayla Josey and Pena) have improved since last year.”

District 24-4A: “Our district is extremely competitive and full of talent,” Lahodny said. “I am certain every team will put forth a strong battle for the district title. Any team will be able to win on any given night.”

Quotable: “Every year our first goal is to win district. We are in one of the most competitive districts so we will take one game at a time,” Lahodny said. “Our players have come into two-a-days stronger and energetic. Our knowledge of the game has grown along with our chemistry and unselfishness. I have no doubt our team will leave everything on the court in effort to obtain a playoff spot. I am very excited about working with this team and its potential to succeed.”



BRAZOSPORT LADY EXPORTERS

Coach: Diana Davis (second year)

Returning PLAYERS: 3 — Jessica Stafford, junior, all-around; Beatrice Gonzales, senior, all-around; Cray Bell, senior, setter

Top Newcomers: 3 — Brandi Jackson, junior, left hitter; Yaniek Bonner, freshman, all-around; Bridget Lopez, sophomore, setter

District 24-4A: “Our district is very competitive with a lot of good teams,” Davis said. “Many of these girls play year-round. The potential is there for us this season to compete.”

Quotable: “We’re a very young team with only three players returning from last season,” Davis said. “We need to come together as a team, and that’s what the preseason games are for. We have a lot of talent and skill, and the biggest thing we need to work on is our teamwork. These girls haven’t played much together and we have to come together as a team before district starts.”



BRAZOSWOOD LADY BUCS

Coach: Elizabeth Limas (fifth year)

Last year’s record: 4-10 District 24-5A; 17-17 overall

Returning PLAYERS: 4 — Jenny Simon, senior, setter; Callie Teeter, senior, outside hitter; Ashley Labay, senior, middle blocker; Miceala Erskine, all-around

Top Newcomers: 5 — Malina Sanchez, sophomore, outside hitter; Kelsey Coufal, sophomore, middle blocker; Abbey Carpenter, freshman, libero; Kirby Kincannon, freshmen, middle blocker; Macie Foreman, right outside hitter

Strengths: “This team is very young,” Limas said. “They work hard and are eager to learn and get better.”

Quotable: “Every team sets a goal to make the playoffs, however, we are going to just take it one game at a time,” Limas said. “I feel that if we continue to work and put in the hours, we will surprise some people. We are definitely excited about another season.”



DANBURY LADY PANTHERS

Coach: Melissa Hansen (first year)

Last year’s record: 5-5 District 29-2A; 8-20 overall

Returning PLAYERS: 10 — Bailey Vrazel, senior, outside hitter; Joslyn Strong, senior, defensive specialist; Jessica Kelm, senior, middle blocker; Kierstin Perry, senior, outside hitter; Alicia Stolte, senior, middle blocker; Meagan Bang, junior, setter; Macy Peltier, junior, setter; Britani Bailey, junior, middle blocker; Shelby Scott, sophomore, defensive specialist and Kaylee Garner, freshman, outside hitter

Top Newcomers: 2 — Kaylee Garner, freshman; Alicia Stolte, senior

Strengths: “One of our strengths will be the leadership that is brought to this team with such a key senior core,” Hansen said. “They are such a great group of young ladies and a positive influence on our program.”

District 29-2A: “All the teams in our district will be competitive,” Hansen said. “We will have to take it one game at a time.”

Quotable: “I am really excited to take over this season and I feel our chances are great,” Hansen said. “However, so are a lot of teams in our district, so we will have to lay it all on the line and push hard for what we want to accomplish this season.”



MANVEL LADY MAVERICKS

Coach: Rheanna Stahl (second year)

Last year’s record: 7-5 District 24-4A; 24-13 overall

Returning starters: 4 — Ellen Smith, senior, middle blocker/right side; Savannah Kylburg, senior, defensive specialist; Cara Fisher, junior, libero/outside hitter; Courtney Klingler, sophomore, outside hitter

Top Newcomers: 6 — Samantha Orta, freshman; Marissa Rosa, junior; Ali Sluismans, junior; Kammie Yoakum, sophomore; Alex Hageman, freshman; Hailey Kettler, sophomore

Strengths: “Defense will be our strength this year,” Stahl said. “Not much height, but our four returnees were our primary passers from last year.”

District 24-4A: “Friendswood and Santa Fe (tied for first), Manvel High School (third) and Texas City (fourth),” Stahl said.

Quotable: “Nothing in this district is a certainty. Everyone will be fighting for a spot,” Stahl said. “All the teams in this district work hard and have the ability to beat anyone on any given day.”



PEARLAND LADY OILERS

Coach: John Turner (16th year)

Last year’s record: 14-0 District 22-5A; 33-6 overall

Returning starters: 3 — Malorie Pardo, junior, setter/outside hitter; Marissa Collins, senior, setter/outside hitter; Carlee Lacy, senior, libero

Top Newcomer: 1 — Callie McNeil, freshman, outside hitter

Strengths: “We have two of the top rated setters in the state in Pardo and Collins,” Turner said. “Malorie was named to the first All-Greater Houston team, Marissa was named to the third team.”

District 22-5A: (1) Pearland, (2) Deer Park, (3) LaPorte, (4) Dobie, (5) Rayburn, (6) Pasadena Memorial, (7) Pasadena, (8) South Houston

Quotable: “I feel very good about our playoff chances because we have three returning starters that are very experienced,” Turner said. “They are on a mission to go deep into the playoffs. Malorie has verbally committed to LSU and Marissa has verbally committed to Central Arkansas.”



DAWSON LADY EAGLES

Coach: Lori McLaughlin (second year)

Last year’s record: 18-21 overall

Returning starters: 8 — Mary Johnston, senior, left back/middle blocker; Emily Malloy, senior, defensive specialist; Camille Bender, junior, middle blocker; Erica Brown, junior, defensive specialist; Olivia Underwood, sophomore, setter; Danielle Sullivan, junior, libero; Grace Underwood, sophomore, middle blocker; Katie Haynie, junior, setter

Top Newcomers: 4 — Katey Kyle, sophomore, middle blocker/right side; Rianne Brink, sophomore, left side/right side; Camryn Kazmierski, junior, left side; Haley Pec, junior, defensive specialist

Strengths: “We did not graduate any seniors, so that has made it nice for us to grow and develop more as a competitive team,” McLaughlin said. “Also, our offensive and defensive depth is giving us a lot of options to change up to different team scenarios.”

District 24-4A: Friendswood, Santa Fe, Dawson, Angleton , Manvel, Texas City, La Marque and Brazosport

Quotable: “I think making it to playoffs is a very achievable goal for Dawson,” McLaughlin said. “The girls have had extensive offseason training and competitive club experiences. The benefit of their hard work will be evident in their court presence.



SWEENY LADY BULLDOGS

Coach: Jamie Lister (first year)

Last year’s record: 7-3 District 26-3A; 22-16 overall

Returning starters: 6 — Candyce Carter, senior, setter/right side; Miranda Huerta, senior, outside hitter; Sher-lyn Layman, senior, outside hitter/right side; Lizze Barnett, senior, libero; Lauren Dannelly, sophomore, middle blocker/right side; Kara Robbins, junior, middle blocker

Top Newcomers: 5 — Mercedes Salazar, senior, defensive specialist; Holly Bruce, senior, setter; Maegan Davis, junior, defensive specialist; Samantha Kuyhendall, junior, setter/right side; Katehrine Kemp, junior, right side

Strengths: “Our main strength is defense,” Lister said. “The girls have a lot of heart and hustle and rarely let a ball drop.”

Quotable: “I definitely think our team will earn a playoff spot. They come to practice and are ready to work unlike some teams I see.” Lister added. “It doesn’t matter if they’re a sophomore or senior, they are still learning and implementing new things to make them better. I think the seniors will step up and carry the team and create the team chemistry that it takes for a winning season. Every game they’ve played, they’ve gotten better and better.”



Joel Luna is the sports editor for The Facts. Contact him at (979) 237-0160.

[Martin DeBerry]

Holcomb walks away from court
Joel Luna ~ The Facts
August 16, 2009

SWEENY — After leading the Sweeny Lady Bulldogs for 11 seasons on the volleyball court, Stacy Holcomb has decided to move aside.

“It was a decision because of my family,” Holcomb said. “My children are getting older and I have one starting seventh grade, and she will be doing things that I want to watch her do. My husband (Tom Holcomb) and I are both coaches and have been doing this for a long time and I just thought one of us needs to be there for them.”

Holcomb finished with a 273-117 record with the Lady Bulldogs and took the team to the playoffs 10 times. Her squad missed the postseason in 2007, the only year one of her teams finished under .500 (16-17).

“I’ve been fortunate because a lot of the kids here have high standards,” Holcomb said. “They will do whatever it takes, especially from a small school like this where they are involved in several other sports. I was very fortunate to have the success that we did and I hope that the foundation that we built here will carry on.

“It was a difficult decision because those kids at the school are like my kids as well,” Holcomb said of her players. “Sometimes we have to put our own families aside in order to fulfill our requirements. It is time-consuming. And even then when I finally decided to do this, it was still hard to put my own family first.”

After coaching junior high in Bryan for the 1997 season, Holcomb was hired to lead Sweeny. From that point on, the Lady Bulldogs made strides on the volleyball court.

“I just need to thank (Sweeny ISD Director of Athletics) Tommy Zajicek for taking a chance on me,” Holcomb said. “I just hope that I taught my kids something about not only being good players, but also being productive in society.

“Every single season has something very special about it,” she said. “I think my last one will be most in my mind because it was my last one. But it was something special and something I will never forget.”

In her final year at the high school, Sweeny finished 22-16.

Though Holcomb will no longer be at the high school, she won’t be too far away. She is still coaching the seventh-grade volleyball team and will also coach track.

Taking over for Holcomb is Jamie Lister, another first-year head varsity coach. Lister graduated from Conroe High School, coached club volleyball since 2003 and is a former college player.

“I graduated from HBU (Houston Baptist University) and played three years there after playing my first year at West Point,” Lister said. “I am excited to reach this next level and hopefully we can go further than what we’ve done. That is one goal for us.

“I am a huge competitor and I hate losing. I know it is going to take a lot of hard work but first we must have a winning season and then go on to the next goal.”



Joel Luna is the sports editor for The Facts. Contact him at (979) 237-0160.

[Martin DeBerry]

Lady Panthers fall to Terry
Jim Levesque ~ The Facts
September 9, 2009

DANBURY — A slow start for the Danbury volleyball team Tuesday put the Lady Panthers in a hole against Terry. But the home squad was able to fight back and force a Game 4 before its lead disappeared against the Lady Rangers.

“It was a below-average start for us, and we got too far behind to come all the way back,” said Danbury head coach Melissa Hansen. “We didn’t come out the way we wanted. It was great to see the girls fight back and get that momentum, but we had to do a better job in the first two games.”

After dropping the first two sets, Danbury thwarted a Terry match point in Game 3, but the Lady Panthers’ nine-point lead and Game 4 vanished as the Lady Rangers earned a 25-16, 25-16, 24-26, 25-21 victory.

Danbury (10-9) led by as much as seven points in Game 3 before a rally from Terry (12-7) put the game in jeopardy.

The Lady Rangers broke a 21-21 tie with one of their 18 blocks at the net, and soon set up match point at 24-23. But a pair of Terry errors turned the tables and put Danbury ahead, 25-24. A kill by Lady Panther Britiany Bailey gave the home team the 26-24 victory.

The serving of Terry’s Kelsey Worley did Danbury in during Game 1 and in the final set.

Worley served for 10 straight points with six aces in the opening game to turn a 2-point Lady Ranger lead into a 20-9 advantage.

In Game 4, Danbury built as much as an eight-point lead, 17-9. Then Worley began serving with Terry trailing 10-17 and helped score six straight points to get the Lady Rangers within one point.

“I think we let that one server get in our heads,” Hansen said. “We struggled there a bit and gave up some points. Those are the things we have to learn to bounce back from.”

Terry broke a 21-all tie in the final game with the last four points, two on kills by Shaniera Davis, to seal the victory.

Hannah Cutbirth was a force for the Lady Rangers and finished the match with 17 kills and 11 blocks. Worley had 29 assists for Terry, Davis finished with 12 kills, and Rhyne Acuff added 10 kills with three blocks.

Bailey Vrazel paced Danbury with 13 kills. Britiany Bailey and Kaylee Garner each added seven kills for the Lady Panthers, and Megan Bang had 19 assists.

Danbury plays against Friday at home against Sweeny.

Brazoswood beats Texas City: The Brazoswood Lady Bucs traveled to Texas City on Tuesday and came away victorious with a 25-12, 25-16, 19-25, 25-11 against the Lady Stings.

Brazoswood now is 12-8 on the year as it prepares for Dickinson and its District 24-5A start.

Setter Jenny Simon led the Lady Bucs with 31. Andrea Escalante had 22 digs and Malina Sanchez finished with 12 kills to lead the team.

Brazoswood will open at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Dickinson McAdams Junior High against Baytown Lee on Court No. 3.

Friday, they open district play on the road against the Lady Chargers.

In subvarsity play, the Brazoswood junior varsity defeated Texas City 25-7, 20-25, 25-8 and the freshmen won in two games, 25-14, 25-12.

Manvel beats Lady Spartans: The Manvel Lady Mavericks defeated Stafford, 22-25, 25-9, 25-15, 25-16 on Tuesday at home.

Ali Sluismans led the Lady Mavericks with 14 kills. Dig leaders were Courtney Klingler and Cara Fisher with 12 each. The assist leader was Sam Orta with 25.

Manvel (11-10) will open District 24-4A play Friday at La Marque.

Both the junior varsity and freshmen teams also won their matches against Stafford on Tuesday.

[Martin DeBerry]

AREA ROUNDUP: Danbury downs Industrial
Staff reports ~ The Facts
September 23, 2009

VOLLEYBALL

Danbury opens district with win over Industrial

The Danbury volleyball team opened District 29-2A play with a big win Tuesday, sweeping Industrial in three games, 25-17, 25-23, 25-19.

Britiany Bailey, Bailey Vrazel and Jessica Kelm each had nine kills for Danbury (13-9, 1-0). Bailey added 14 digs and three blocks, Vrazel had 12 digs and two blocks, and Kelm chipped in with four blocks.

“It was a great way to start district and set the tone for the rest of district play,” Danbury head coach Melissa Hansen said. “To play with that much heart and intensity, from the girls on the bench to the girls on the floor, that’s all a coach can ask for.”

Macy Peltier had 20 digs for the Lady Panthers. Kayle Garner had three kills and six digs, and teammate Megan Bang had 20 assists.

Danbury rallied late in Game 2 to take a 2-0 lead on Industrial.

The Lady Panthers trailed 18-12 before a six-point run knotted the score.

Industrial built a 22-18 lead before another Danbury push. A Vrazel kill capped another 6-0 run and put the Lady Panthers at game point, 24-22. A Danbury mistake gave Industrial a side out, but a serve into the net ended the game.

Danbury plays again Friday in a nondistrict match at Sweeny at 4:30 p.m.

DAWSON FALLS: Friendswood swept Pearland Dawson 25-10, 25-11, 29-27 on Tuesday in a District 24-4A contest.

The loss gives the Lady Eagles a 2-2 district mark and 16-15 overall record, while the Lady Mustangs improve to a district-leading 4-0, and 27-5 overall.

Camryn Kazmierski led Dawson with six kills while Aimee Peck had nine for Friendswood.

LADY BUCS SWEPT: Brazoswood lost in District 24-5A play Tuesday night at Dickinson in three games, 25-14, 25-17, 25-19. Callie Teeter led the Lady Bucs with a game-high seven kills.

Brazswood’s junior varsity team lost in two games, 25-6, 25-17. The Brazoswood freshmen sqauds split. The Blue team won in three games, 25-6, 15-25, 25-16, and the Silver team lost in three, 23-25, 25-23, 18-25.

Brazoswood plays again Friday at Clear Creek.

SANTA FE BEATS DAWSON: The Lady Indians swept Pearland Dawson last week, 25-18, 25-23, 25-17 to improve to a District 24-4A record of 2-1 while the Lady Eagles fell to 2-1.

The Lady Eagles (16-14) were led by Camryn Kazmierski’s seven kills, while Katie Marabella led Santa Fe with 12.