The Rockdale Lady Tigers held their first scrimmage at home early Saturday, sharing the gym with fellow Milam county schools Milano and Thorndale, and Rogers in Bell County.
Rockdale had 34 girls show up to the first day of practices. High School volleyball coach Jennifer Keen said she was excited about the upcoming season,
“We had players graduate, but we have multiple players returning and ready to step up,” Keen said.
Players like Reyna Gonzalez, a four-year letterman, will be relied on to power the Lady Tiger defense along with Payton Miller and Reese Weise. Keen also said they’ll be looking to Lyndsey Kolar to be a huge threat at the net. Ryanne Young, Kyle Eubanks and Kaylee Criswell will also be difference makers, according to Keen.
Rockdale will travel to Florence this weekend for their first tournament. Aug. 9-11. They will play their first district game on Friday, Sept. 7, when they host the Franklin High School Lady Lions.
Milano – In Milano, 19 girls showed up to the Geneva Pacely Gym for their first practice of the 2018 season, but Coach Wendy King said this year’s varsity would have six players.
“Currently, I am looking at only having six (players) in the varsity rotation,” King said. “I have three junior varsity kids who will all have an opportunity to move up, but our numbers are very limited.”
Milano has four returning from last year’s bi-district champion team and one member who didn’t play they year before. King will also add freshmen McKenna Robertson, who will likely be an offensive threat in the time to come, she said.
The Lady Eagles will travel to Cameron on Thursday, Aug. 9, to play their first tournament, and start district play on Tuesday, Sept. 4, against the Holland High School Lady Hornets.
Thorndale – In Thorndale, 32 girls were in attendance for the first practice on Wednesday, Aug. 1. The Lady Bulldogs have seven players returning from last year’s bi-district champion team, but they’ll have a lot of adjustments to make with injuries to (player 1) and (player 2), said Angelene Raines, head coach of the varsity team.
“We have a senior that hasn’t played (volleyball) since eighth grade, and two new varsity players who are playing bigger roles due to injuries,” Raines said. “A couple of our (returning) girls are playing bigger roles than they played in the past.”
Thorndale plays their first tournament on Thursday, Aug. 9, at Westwood High School in Round Rock. They start district play on Tuesday, Sept. 4, when they travel to take on the Granger High School Lady Lions.
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