More updates

Here's a link to the Region V website, with articles about both of our latest signees.  Region V Website

First signing!

So yesterday we went down to Rogers, Texas and signed our first player for the 2011-2012 season!  Cayleigh Drake, who might very well have tied for the lead in kills this year in the state of Texas with 838, is coming to play for us!  A middle blocker who could also potentially play outside.  I cannot tell you how excited I am.  When I was hired for this job, I called my parents to let them know, then I hung up the phone and called Cayleigh to offer her.  That is how highly I think of her.

Yes, I realize I can't smile.  Here's a picture of her signing:

Thats her coach, Coach Rogers (who also played at Hill College) on the right.  So Cayleigh will come in next year and I expect her to contribute right away.  She will wear #3.  Here's a link to the newspaper article about her signing: Cayleigh's signing

Speaking of #3's, our current #3 Lauren Ray signed her National Letter of Intent earlier this week to play at Henderson State!  I am very proud of her.  She has worked incredibly hard in the past 5 years I've known her and now she gets to go to a solid volleyball program and conference, play at a high level, and graduate with a great degree and be pretty much debt free.  She has earned everything she gets.

Finally, we are in the middle of off season right now.  A lot of conditioning and plyometric work, but our hitters are also learning a new type of swing that will make them very effective.  You will see a different team on the court in the spring.  Until next time.

Great news

Ok I'm really falling behind on these posts.  WE started off season yesterday with a lot of plyos and the girls responded really well.  NOw we have another workout today and we'll see how they respond when they are sore.

Come back tomorrow for potentially great news about one of our sophomores signing to move on to a 4 year school...

Finally, here's a link to Hill College's facebook photo album of our team.  Thanks to Eddie Middlebrook for taking these pictures. Facebook pictures

Tough end to season

Unfortunately, we ended our season yesterday with two tough loses.  We started out against NCTC and once again, just like in the regular season, we lost to them in 5.

After a short break, we had to play Vernon in an elimination game.  For some reason, our conference play-offs is double elimination.  Vernon had lost to Temple earlier in the day.  We started out great and won games 1 and 3, but still not playing up to our potential.  Once again, we went to 5 and Vernon passed absolute nails and beat us for the first time since I've been at Hill College.  A very tough way to end our season.

Some highlights of the weekend:
- Sapphire Reid had 41 kills combined in both matches
- Taylor Jones hit .400 against NCTC with 8 kills and no errors.
- Haley Goldwater averaged over 9 assistes per game

So it's the last time I get to coach Lauren Ray and Sapphire Reid, whom I first coached when they were 16.  They will go to great 4 year schools (to be announced soon) and they will be an amazing asset to whichever coach gets them next.  In the mean time, we have end of season interviews and I get to hit the recruiting trail in full force to watch some high school games.  I'll try and post some pictures soon and maybe a highlight reel.  Until next time.

So late

So I thought I posted some stuff earleir this week.  Apparantly I did not.  let me get you updated:

- We ended the regular season 16-15 overall; 5-5 in conference.  This out us in 3rd place and playing NCTC in round 1 (you can see one of our games against them in another post).  We went to their place last week and lost in 5, so this could be a good match.  Our conference tournament in Saturday and hopefully Sunday at Brookhaven College in Dallas.  We play at 12 pm on Saturday: win we play again at 7, lose at 5.

- At our region meeting, our libero Lauren Ray was named conference defensive player of the year!!  Sapphire Reid was named 1st team all-conference, and Mariah Everitt, Haley Goldwater, and Brittany Berry were named 2nd team.

- We had a great sophomore night last Thursday, honoring our manager Angel Parham and both Lauiren and Sapphire with plaques and stirring speeches,  Sapphire and Lauren are also getting personalized gifts which they will receive at a later date.

Thats all I've got now.  I'll try and post pictures later.