FALL SPORTS PREVIEW 2013: Marble Falls volleyball

TEAM: Marble Falls High School volleyball

HEAD COACH: Julie Downs

DISTRICT: 25-4A

2012 RESULT: 14-18-1 overall and 0-12 in district

RETURNERS: Haley Coulter, Taylor Brackenridge, Lacie Long, Maddie Johnson, Hanna Wall

NEWCOMERS: Shelby Wyatt, Shelcee Clark, Makenzie Carpenter, Jackie Winn, Kelly Copeland, Amber Clark, Natalie Chapa

OUTLOOK: The Lady Mustangs began the 2012 season with a winning record, but the reputation of District 25-4A as being one of the top volleyball divisions in the state haunted Marble Falls.

In the end, district runner-up Cedar Park advanced to the state tournament, where they lost to eventual state champion Lucas Lovejoy in four sets.

Marble Falls head coach Downs doesn’t expect the district competition to get any easier in 2013. There are minimal changes at Cedar Park, she said, but Dripping Springs enters the season as the No. 5-ranked Class 4A team by the Texas Girls Coaches Association.

“They’re tough, tough, tough,” she said.

That means Marble Falls must find a way to beat the remaining district opponents if the Lady Mustangs want to advance to the postseason for the first time since 2009. So it’s up to the returners and some upperclassmen to lead the program into the playoffs, she said.

“We have to do well in our tournament season to build our confidence,” Downs said. “We have to learn to win, that’s the major goal. They’re sick of losing. We don’t want to lose anymore. We feel like we have everything we need. We have put everybody in place, and they have to believe they can make it happen.”

jfierro@thepicayune.com

[tabs style=”default”] [tab title=”JUNIOR VARSITY”]The 2013 Marble Falls High School Lady Mustangs junior varsity volleyball team. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro[/tab] [tab title=”FRESHMEN”]The 2013 Marble Falls High School Lady Mustangs junior varsity volleyball team. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro[/tab] [/tabs]