Volleyball: Class 3A state tournament team capsules

>> MONAHANS

Mascot: Lady Loboes.

Head coach: Patty Dominguez (13th season).

Assistant coaches: Becky Hix, Tracie Porras.

Record: 40-5.

Qualified: District 3-3A champion; Region I-3A champion.

Playoff results: Beat Brownwood 25-18, 25-16, 25-12 (area); beat Dalhart 25-16, 24-26, 23-25, 25-19, 15-11 (regional quarterfinals); beat Burnet 25-15, 25-19, 25-23 (regional semifinals); beat Abilene Wylie 21-25, 25-16, 25-22, 25-18 (regional final).

State tournament appearances: 15 (1969, 1970, 1974, spring 1975, fall 1975, 1979, 1982, 1984, 1996, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009).

State titles: 9 (1969, 1970, 1974, spring 1975, fall 1975, 1979, 1982, 1984, 2004).

Notes: Lady Loboes are back at the state tournament after falling last season in the regional quarterfinals, which was their earliest playoff exit since 2001. Most of last season’s team returned while senior outside hitter Kati Holly, senior middle blocker Kristi Holly and senior outside hitter Shelbi Cornelius all played on the state finalist team from 2007. … Junior outside hitter Amy Rose, junior setter, Erin Fisher, senior middle blocker Kali Lewis, senior libero Shelbi Najar, senior defensive specialist Michelle Azuaje and junior defensive specialist Feleena Graves make most the players most often playing in the Monahans lineup. … The Lady Loboes have made the championship match in their last four state tournament appearances, including the Class 3A title in 2004. They lost in five sets in both the 2005 and 2007 finals after leading 2-1 in both (against Bellville in ’05 and Wimberley in ’07). 

>> CALDWELL

Mascot: Lady Hornets.

Head coach: Jane Anne Giese (sixth season).

Assistant coaches: Wendy Weiss, Brandy Dahir.

Record: 31-12.

Qualified: District 24-3A champion; Region III-3A champion.

Playoff results: Beat Bridge City 21-25, 25-18, 25-13, 25-16 (area); beat Cleveland Tarkington 16-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-19, 19-17 (regional quarterfinals); beat Carthage 25-19, 25-16, 25-14 (regional semifinals); beat Mexia 17-25, 25-19, 25-14, 25-15 (regional final).

State tournament appearances: 7 (1976, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2008, 2009)

State titles: 2 (1998, 2000).

Notes: Lady Hornets have a few players back from last season’s state semifinalist team but only 6-foot-2 junior middle blocker Sondra Flippin is in the same position. Melissa Cumby is playing on the left side after playing right-side hitter a year ago while Taylor Nowak has switched to playing right back on defense after playing on the left in 2008. Also, Callee Norman is playing defensive specialist this season after playing at libero. … Caldwell’s getting a little family help this season with sophomore Allison Alford playing setter after sister Kelsey Alford did a season ago. … Caldwell overcame three match points in its regional quarterfinal victory against Cleveland Tarkington. “That was by far the most emotional match I’ve ever coached,” Giese said. “My kids stayed poised and comfortable and fought through it.” … Giese played for Caldwell’s 1998 team that won the state championship by outlasting Lamesa. She went on to play for the University of Houston. … Caldwell lost to Monahans 26-24, 25-14, 25-23 in the semifinals of the 2003 Class 3A tournament. 

>> LUCAS LOVEJOY

Mascot: Lady Leopards.

Head coach: Ryan Mitchell (fourth season).

Assistant coaches: Bryan Stanfield, Dena Goddard, Jeff Kear.

Record: 41-7.

Qualified: District 13-3A champion; Region II-3A champion.

Playoff results: Beat Atlanta 25-14, 25-22, 25-12 (area); beat Emory Rains 25-14, 25-16, 25-12 (regional quarterfinals); beat Proster 28-26, 25-11, 25-12 (regional semifinals); beat Texarkana Pleasant Grove 25-19, 25-19, 25-14 (regional final).

State tournament appearances: 2 (2008, 2009).

State titles: 1 (2008).

Notes: Here’s the scary thing about Lovejoy being the defending state champion — every player is back. Lovejoy is just a fourth-year school and the team’s eight seniors all started the school as freshmen in 2006. Lovejoy made the regional quarterfinals in 2007 before beating Brownwood in last year’s 3A final. … Two of Lovejoy’s seniors could be playing in UTPB’s Falcon Dome next fall — though for other teams. Senior setter Tyler Bradshaw has signed with Dallas Baptist of the Heartland Conference while senior middle blocker Whitney Stevens is heading for Abilene Christian. … Lovejoy’s main weapons include junior outside hitter Natalie Puckett, who was the Class 3A state tournament’s MVP last season; sophomore setter-middle blocker Andie Milloy; and senior outside hitter Lauren McDaniel. 

>> WIMBERLEY

Mascot: Lady Texans.

Head coach: Lee Grisham (14th season).

Assistant coaches: Jen Bachman, Julie Dahle.

Record: 33-12.

Qualified: District 30-3A champion; Region IV-3A champion.

Playoff results: Beat Aransas Pass 25-10, 25-11, 25-17 (area); beat La Feria 25-15, 25-20, 25-11 (regional quarterfinals); beat Needville 25-21, 25-11, 25-15 (regional semifinals); beat Fredericksburg 20-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-19, 15-11 (regional final).

State tournament appearances: 8 (1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009).

State titles: 7 (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007).

Notes: The Lady Texans have won 14 consecutive matches at the state tournament, losing only their debut in 1998. … Wimberley has two players back from the 2007 championship team — Britney Schindler, who Grisham says is a team leader, and Audi Keith. … The Lady Texans beat district rival Fredericksburg in three out of four meetings, losing in a tournament early in the season. The last two victories were both in five sets. … Grisham was a speaker at the Basin’s Best Volleyball Clinic, hosted by Odessa High, from 2006-08. He missed the 2009 Clinic for a good reason — to attend his daughter’s wedding.