Volleyball: Monahans back in familiar setting at state

MONAHANS Fair or not, the standard of Monahans High School volleyball has been hanging over the 2009 Lady Loboes.

District titles and seasons of more than 30 victories mean only so much in this program’s case.

As the decade comes to a close, the Lady Loboes are back among the elite with their 15th trip to the UIL State Volleyball Championships.

When Monahans (40-5) plays Caldwell (31-12) at 1 p.m. today at Texas State University’s Strahan Coliseum in San Marcos, it will be the program’s sixth appearance in the state tournament since 2002.

The bulk of this team was on the floor for last season’s loss in the regional quarterfinal round, Monahans’ earliest postseason exit since 2001. That memory definitely played a part in reaching today’s state semifinal match.

“They felt like getting past the regional quarterfinals was their major hurdle,” Lady Loboes head coach Patty Dominguez said. “They felt like there was some unfinished business because that was the end of their season, but the ultimate goal was to be here.”

Getting past the Dalhart rematch in the regional quarterfinals was a major part of that, and Monahans did it by pulling out a five-set victory.

Another challenging match came in the Region I-3A Tournament final against Abilene Wylie, however, with the Lady Loboes trailing often before winning in four sets.

Monahans also had to beat Brownwood — last year’s Class 3A state runner-up — in the area round as part of a challenging process that ends this weekend in San Marcos. The Monahans-Caldwell winner faces either defending state champion Lucas Lovejoy or Wimberley at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Class 3A championship match.

“You do have to step it up a lot more because the atmosphere is a lot different,” senior outside hitter Kati Holly said. “But you’re already there. You can’t be afraid because you’re already there and you just have to have fun with it. There’s nothing more that you can improve on once you’re there so you’ve just got to play your game.”

Holly and her twin sister, middle blocker Kristi Holly, both have experience from Monahans’ 2007 trip to the state tournament that ended with a five-set loss to Wimberley in the championship.

They saw plenty of action, while senior outside hitter Shelbi Cornelius also got on the floor in a more limited role.

“It’s really nice to go back,” Cornelius said. “I didn’t get to play much back then so it’s nice to go now and actually have playing time. But I’m a little more nervous because this time I’m one of the seniors who’s supposed to help lead.”

Amy Rose is a junior outside hitter for the Lady Loboes who was named the Region I-3A Tournament’s Most Valuable Player last weekend.

She and fellow junior Erin Fisher, the team’s starting setter, both were on the bench as freshmen for that trip two seasons ago and soaked in the atmosphere.

“I remember that perfectly,” Rose said. “I think the experience helps a lot, even just being there. It helps calm my nerves because I will know what’s going on. This is what we said we wanted — to go to state — and it’s an accomplishment, but we’re not going to be happy unless we win state.”

This year’s state tournament field won’t make that an easy goal to accomplish.

Lovejoy, the defending champ, has everybody back and Wimberley has won five titles since 2001. The latest was in 2007 when it knocked off Monahans after trailing 7-3 in the final set of the championship.

Caldwell has some experience after losing in last year’s state semifinals, so surviving the opening day will require a solid effort from the Lady Loboes.

“We know we have two games to battle hard,” Dominguez said. “What we talked about was giving everything you have on Friday and then we’ll rest and enjoy it and then get back in there and give everything you have Saturday.

“With what they’ve showed me, I think the team unity is the strongest I’ve seen. The teams in the past did a good job, but these kids are so unselfish about themselves and they’re putting the team first no matter what.”

>> UIL State Volleyball Championships 

Thursday-Saturday

At Texas State’s Strahan Coliseum

San Marcos

THURSDAY

Class 2A Semifinals

Poth def. White Oak 25-22, 25-23, 25-18.

Aubrey def. Peaster 15-25, 25-23, 25-18, 28-26.

Class 4A Semifinals

Canyon Randall def. Seguin 22-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-17.

Brenham def. Richardson Pearce 25-21, 25-22, 27-25.

FRIDAY

Class 1A Semifinals

9 a.m. — Louise (39-4) vs. Normangee (31-10).

11 a.m. —  Bronte (39-5) vs. Lindsay (35-10).

Class 3A Semifinals

1 p.m. — Monahans (40-5) vs. Caldwell (31-12).

3 p.m. — Lucas Lovejoy (41-7) vs. Wimberley (33-12).

Class 5A Semifinals

5 p.m. — Amarillo High (46-3) vs. Georgetown (39-9).

7 p.m. — Katy Cinco Ranch (40-6) vs. Austin Westlake (38-6).

SATURDAY

Championship Matches

9 a.m. — Class 1A.

11 a.m. — Class 2A: Poth (37-10) vs. Aubrey (37-9).

3 p.m. — Class 4A: Canyon Randall (41-1) vs. Brenham (41-6).

5 p.m. — Class 5A.