Lady Hawks Volleyball Ready to Make Run at District Title

WALL, TX-- The Wall Lady Hawks volleyball team is heading into 2018 with high hopes after finishing second in district play last year.

The Lady Hawks graduated 7 seniors and return two players from the 2017 team which made it to the Area Round of playoffs, though.

“Even though we are really young this year, it’s coming together well,” Jones said. “We look like we’re ready for district. So, our preseason should be pretty strong this year.”

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Third-year head coach Robynn Jones thinks the Lady Hawks are ready for 2018 despite losing the lion share of her team because of how her team stepped up in the offseason.

“It was a big question mark. We didn’t know who was going to step up,” Jones said.

Outside hitter Kylee Phillips and setter Mallory Melton are the lone returners from last season and Jones said they will be key pieces for the Lady Hawks. But, as is the case with most small schools, they were involved in other extra-curricular activities like basketball and band during the winter and spring. So, the Lady Hawks were still looking for someone to step up in the program every day.

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Jones says she found that in her two seniors, Taylor Wyatt and Rylee Luther.

“They stepped up,” Jones praised. “They made sure everyone was working out over the course of the summer, which helped us out since we only have two days of practice before this first scrimmage today.”

Melton is entering her junior year at Wall; she was converted to a setter as a freshman. She and Luther are regarding as an “extension” of their head coach by Jones.

“(Melton) doesn’t have a lot of experience as far as setting goes, but you can’t tell,” Jones said. “She is such an athlete that she was able to come so far in such a little amount of time.

“To have (Luther and Melton) run our offense, it’s big for us. They’re able to be an extension of me, the coach, on the floor, which is priceless for us.”

The Lady Hawks looked to challenge for the district crown in 2017, but dropped both matches to Sonora by a combined six games to three.

This year, the Lady Hawks get Sonora first in District 4-3A and knocking off the Lady Broncos would be “huge,” according to Jones.

“District championships are always what we look for in Wall,” Jones said. “So, we’re already talking about Sonora. We’re already talking about how big that rivalry is. We’re preparing mentally so we can be ready physically when they roll around.”

The Lady Hawks and Lady Broncos will cross paths at the Fillie Festival in Denver City and Jones knows each team will have an eye on the other.

“That’s where Sonora will see us first and we’ll see them as well. So, it’s a big deal for us to talk about Sonora on a daily basis so we can whoop them in that first game,” Jones added. “It’s always hard. It’s always great competition, but we look forward to that rivalry.”

The Lady Hawks officially open their season on Tuesday, Aug. 7, when they host Midland Greenwood.