Volleyball: Lady Loboes feel prepared for just about anything

MONAHANS Even though this time of the year is very familiar for Monahans High School’s volleyball team, the opponents don’t always fall into the same category.

At 1:30 p.m. today, for instance, the Lady Loboes (36-5) face off against Brownwood (20-16) in a Class 3A area playoff match at Snyder High School.

With no recent history between the programs, about all Monahans players know about their first playoff opponent is that it reached the Class 3A state final a year ago.

And, whatever information the coaching staff has gathered.

Lady Loboes head coach Patty Dominguez does her best to watch and track down information on every possible Region I-3A foe along with varsity assistants Becky Hix and Tracie Porras and the staff of junior high coaches.

“They do so much for us and it really helps us a lot,” Monahans junior hitter Amy Rose said. “We play our game and we don’t really worry about what the other side is doing, but sometimes you have to kind of adjust what you’re doing. Like Brownwood, they have a big kid on the outside who’s left-handed, so we’re going to have to adjust the block to handle a left-handed hitter.”

It’s just one of the details gained by plenty of hours and miles put in by the Monahans coaches and digested by the Lady Loboes players.

Of course, Monahans isn’t the only team that scouts, but its level of preparation certainly makes a difference.

Dominguez said she wants to do everything possible to put her team in a position to succeed, an instinct she might have gotten from her aunt, former and legendary Pecos coach Nora Geron.

“It’s just little tips you need to know and things to think about to get your mind ready,” Monahans senior Shelbi Cornelius said. “I think it helps with the mental aspect to know you need to be serving to this position or whatever.”

The Lady Loboes went 10-0 in district and didn’t drop a set while capturing the title, though they did have to go four sets Tuesday while winning a practice match at Denver City.

Just about every player in the Monahans lineup was part of last season’s playoff team, so the level of play needed to succeed shouldn’t be a surprise.

“I feel good about the level we’re at,” Cornelius said. “We have a lot of team chemistry. Once you get into the playoffs, it’s all about momentum.”