Great Expectations for Lady Cats in 2021
The Archer City Lady Cats are loaded with senior leadership and talent entering the 2021 season, bringing back all but one player from last season’s district championship team that advanced to the regional quarterfinals.
Lady Cats Head Coach Krissa England knows the pressure is there but emphasizes to the team to execute their role and the big things will take care of themselves.
“We know that it’s there and we know that’s what people expect,” England said. “We’re just going about our business. You don’t go to work every day and think ‘I’ve got to be the best employee ever.’ You just go to work and do what you’re supposed to do. That’s how we’re trying to handle it. If you think about it too much, that’s when you fall short. I know they’re putting a little more pressure on themselves than I am but they’re a competitive group. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing; we’ll see throughout the year.”
The Lady Cats have all the pieces in place for another run to the regional and state tournament with six returning starters.
A dominant offensive force that can take over a game? Check.
An experienced setter that serves as the floor general? Check.
A trio of hitters on the front row? Check.
A libero that can get to any ball on the court? Check.
The Lady Cats have it all in their senior class.
“We’re senior heavy which is a good thing,” England said. “Our defense is going to be what makes or breaks us. They’ve gotten better already so it’s looking good but we still have a lot of work to do. Offensively we have everyone back. Maddie and Jill are back so we already have a relationship between setters and hitters. It’s going to come down to defense finding a footing.”
Senior middle Mallory Maxwell headlines the talented class after earning Offensive Player of the Year in district for each of the last two seasons. Maxwell posted 230 kills, 43 aces, 190 digs and 45 blocks for the Lady Cats a year ago.
Senior setter Maddie Lopez is coming off a district MVP season with 80 kills, 56 aces, 395 assists, 247 digs and seven blocks last season. Lopez serves as England’s mouthpiece when out on the floor.
“She lets everyone know what they’re doing and where they’re going. I give instruction to her and she gives instruction to the team a lot of the time. She’s improved a lot with knowing where to go with the ball. A lot of times, after three attempts I would tell her to just set this person. Now I’m in my head thinking ‘we need to set this person’ and she goes. She’s grown more and more in her aspect of running the game.”
On the outside, seniors Chandler Clark and Olivia Vogtsberger are expected to take a more expansive role in the offense. Clark, an all-district first teamer a year ago, has no fear when letting it rip from the pin after rolling up 182 kills a season ago.
Vogtsberger slid into the starting rotation in the postseason after Delaini Hanna went down with a knee injury in the bi-district round.
“Olivia’s going to have to grow a lot. She really didn’t play a lot last year and then when Delaini went down, she stepped into a starting role. This year she’s going to have an important role so she’s going to have to build that confidence and trust herself.”
Senior middle Bailey Grant anchors the front row after garnering Blocker of the Year accolades in district last season with 198 kills and 36 blocks.
On the back row, senior libero Aspyn Huseman is coming off an ACL injury in basketball that forced her to miss the majority of that season. She was cleared over the summer to make a full return. Last season was an impressive one for Huseman, racking up 343 digs and 30 aces from the service line to win Server of the Year in district.
“She’s going to have to trust herself,” England said of her libero. “Volleyball is not her main sport. She can crossover at the drop of a hat but she second-guesses her gut when it says ‘go cross.’ She just needs to trust herself. She will. She’s an athlete. It’ll come. She’s already improved.”
Junior setter Jill Liles is the energetic spark the Lady Cats need. She keeps the team relaxed while also smoothly orchestrating the offense. Last season, Liles registered 36 kills, 25 aces, 378 assists, 175 digs and eight blocks.
“Jill is just Jill,” England said. “She is a steady constant. She can make a mistake and just let it roll right off her shoulders. She keeps the team loose. Calm is not the correct word because Jill is never calm, but loose and relaxed is what she does.”
Not only do the Lady Cats own one of the most experienced teams in the state, the coaching staff received a huge boon in the form of Julie Castles making her return to Archer City.
“Anytime you can bring someone like Julie back on staff, it’s a huge benefit,” England raved of her new assistant. “If you sit down and think about it, she has more athletic experience than I do as the head coach. It might not be all volleyball experience but athletic experience, coaching at different levels, coaching at different schools, coaching different sports, you can’t put enough on the knowledge that she has. Me being a stubborn coach, I always ask for advice and think ‘yeah that’s not going to work,’ and then I sit and think and say maybe it will work, let’s try it. If it works, it works and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. She’s like a playbook. You can open her up for information. I’m lucky.”
England has one thing correct: she’s lucky. If she can get this squad to gel by the time the playoffs roll around, there’s no reason not to think this team can make a run to the state tournament in November.
