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Volleyball: The Hunted: Cowgirls out to defend state title
By Justin Thomas, jthomas@starlocalnews.com
Last season, Coppell’s volleyball team spent the early portion of its season adjusting to play under first-year coach Julie Green.
Three months later, the Cowgirls were Class 5A State Champs.
This year, with the proverbial target on their back, the Cowgirls are transitioning following the graduation of key pieces as they look to defend their state title.
The Cowgirls went 7-1 at the event, with wins over Atascosita, Allen (twice), Plano Senior, College Park, Westlake and Lovejoy.
“I was OK with how we played in the tournament,” said Julie Green, Coppell head coach. “We played well against Carroll. I’m just a horrible loser and hated finishing second. But it put a lot of things in perspective for us and with a team that lost five starters, that is what we needed. We needed tough competition and to be pressed and challenged early on.”
While the final result wasn’t as desired, Green is pleased with the progression.
“Last year, it took us a while to start to gel and get on the same page with our chemistry and serve-receive and other areas,” she said. “This year we are much further along than last year. The chemistry has been great and I think a lot of that is because a lot of the girls that are back understand what it is going to take to get back to state.”
Key pieces returning include middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu (District 7-5A first team last year), outside hitter Cassidy Pickrell (first team), right side hitter Erica Bohanon (Hitter of the Year) and setters Laura Beaty and Kylie Pickrell.
Newcomers to the varsity club and returning players with limited experience on the court are outside hitters Cathryn Cheek, Kate Dicken and Natalie Gilbert; defensive specialist and liberos Ashley Rich, Alex Silver and Lindsay Stivers; middle blocker-outside hitter Hannah Kellen and middle blocker Mary-Kate Marshall.
The biggest adjustment comes at setter, where Kylie and Beaty must replace the losses of starters Bear Bass and Sarah Arnold.
“Kylie came in and we ran a 5-1 with her at setter for most of the weekend,” Green said. “When Laura was in, we ran more of a 6-2. I prefer the 6-2 because you always have three hitting options. But the 5-1 only uses one setter, which makes it a little easier to get used to playing. They’ve both done a good job and going forward we are going to run whichever gives us the most consistency, which could be some of both.”
Defensively, the Cowgirls will lean on Silver, Rich and Stivers.
“Alex was on junior varsity last year but has looked very good so far and has adjusted to the varsity level,” Green said. “She has shown a lot of maturity. Ashley was a freshman last year and has been steady so far, and Lindsay has really been competing for playing time as well after getting called up to varsity late last year. They’ve all been solid and are doing a good job on serve-receive.”
“When you talk about defense, though, I think you also have to talk about blocking. And we’ve looked good there, too.”
Enter Ogbogu, who is supported by Marshall and Kellen.
“Chiaka does so many things for us but it starts with her block. She is just tremendous there,” Green said. “Mary-Kate is a player we called up late last year and is doing a great job again this year. And Hannah is a very athletic and versatile player. She can play both middle and right side, but our goal for her in the long run is to get the experience to replace Chiaka in the middle.”
With senior Cassidy leading the way on the outside, Coppell isn’t lacking for offense, either.
“Cassidy is our No. 1 outside hitter,” Green said. “She has looked very good so far and has really matured even more from last season. Kate has done a great job on the outside as well and Cathryn is a little younger but got a lot of playing time last weekend and did a good job with her time.”
Dicken also saw time on the outside last year and will enjoy an extended role this season.
“I think the girls that moved up late last year have really benefitted from that time on varsity and in the playoffs,” Green said. “They have a better idea of what we are looking for and what to expect. But it’s really about confidence. They are playing with a swagger and I think it’s from that experience.”
Rounding out the frontcourt on the right side is Bohanon.
“Erica does a great job and is very important for us because it gives us three big hitters at three different positions,” Green said. “We can kind of stagger them and it gives us a lot of balance because we can split them up in different rotations and really make it difficult for the opponent to match up with us.”
It’s that balance that Green believes could ultimately lead to success.
“Our goal is to have six rotations that we are steady in,” she said. “We want to have balance and we’re still working on changing lineups and figuring out what our weaknesses are in each rotation.”
The Cowgirls, like most teams, are also constantly seeking improvement in their serve-receive.
“We’re a talented offensive and defensive team,” Green said. “But none of that matters if you can’t pass the ball and get it to your hitters in good spots. Last year, it seemed like it took a while to get comfortable. This year I feel like we are already passing at a higher level.”
The other question surrounding Coppell is the focus and motivation the squad will have after reaching the pinnacle last year.
“The biggest thing for us is staying focused,” Green said. “We have to take ownership in our play and approach every match like it’s a playoff match. We have to prepare daily and can’t be surprised or caught off guard because we are going to get everyone’s best effort.”
While Coppell has its eyes on a second consecutive state title, those goals begin with reaching the playoffs and capturing a district title.
The Cowgirls will compete in District 5-5A with Denton Ryan, Lewisville, Flower Mound, Marcus and Hebron (2010 5A State Champ).
“I prefer an eight-team district just because it’s more district games, which I believe are more meaningful,” Green said. “But the district is going to be very tough. We’re going to have to play every night. You look at just the teams in the district and you have teams that we played in the first, third and fifth rounds of the playoffs last year. They’re talented teams with great coaches and everyone should be prepared for the playoffs when district is over.”
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