The girls of the Lady Wolves volleyball team have quite a reputation for being the best in the district. They have claimed the title of district champions for eight years straight.  This season looks just as promising.  With Plano East as their biggest competition, the team is practicing to stay on top.

“We are not a very big team this season,” senior Paige McKiddy said. “So we are focusing on defense as our main area of expertise.”

In mid-August, the Lady Wolves played in three tournaments that were held at Duncanville High School, Allen High School and Pearland High School.

“The tournaments gave us the chance to move beyond our old problems, and on to the new ones,” McKiddy said.

Each year, new players are added to the team, ranging from freshmen to seniors, and they must all learn to play as a team.

“The new players were shocked at the speed of our practices and schedules, but over the past few weeks they have been able to adjust,” McKiddy said.

The girls practice encouragement and unity to keep the team going strong.

“We work really well together even through loss,” junior Morgan MacGilvary said.

The unity of the team shows through their persistence of cheering each other on and maintaining a positive attitude through wins and losses.

 “We let the coach do the yelling, and we do the encouraging,” McKiddy said.

Even those who are not players can see the strength of the team.  Most of the players have played together since sophomore year, in addition to a few new players who came from Shepton and Jasper High Schools.

 “They are a fun group of people, and each girl is filled with a lot of potential,” senior manager Conner Walsh said. “The team feels hopeful and optimistic about the coming season.”

If one were to attend the practices, they could witness the intense training and conditioning that these girls strive to achieve.  Their workout consists of lifting weights and running laps around the gym every day starting at 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

“I believe that we will play the way we should,” McKiddy said. “I am really excited for the season.”