Players soar through the air and sneakers squeak on the polished court floor as six girls unite through sweat and tears to achieve their goals, finishing on top when the final point scores. After countless hours of practice and numerous days spent at competitions, the Lady Tigers’ volleyball season officially reached an end.
The Texas High volleyball team played a long season, emerging with a 25-18 overall record and a 12-5 District record. Their strength and dedication to the sport and their teammates exemplify their honorable character.
“Throughout this season, I learned a lot about myself. I learned how to be a better leader [and] how to treat people in certain situations,” senior Sydney Woods said. “I [also] learned how to talk to my teammates better [and] being an overall better leader.”
Along with personal growth experienced throughout the season, these players developed an enhanced connection as a team. This connection provided a strong foundation for success at the season’s end.
“We really grew as a team. From preseason up until the last game, we grew in defense, blocking, and passing,” Woods said. “It was a good season, but I think we could have been more disciplined in tight situations and just come together as a team in those predicaments.”
The team’s strong technical foundation and personal connections help them work in union on the court and defeat some of the toughest adversaries.
“[Our best game] was against Lufkin,” senior Kylee Perkins said. “It was a tiebreaker that we won, which got us second [place in district].”
The team’s success throughout the season stemmed from dedication on and off the court. These girls put in countless hours behind the scenes to stay ready when competition arrives.
“[Our first practice] started in the summer with summer workouts, but we also had open-gym with our coaches. These are things that nobody sees or knows,” Senior Taryne Stiger said. “We put in countless days with camps [and] going back and forth to Dallas. Then when school started, [we practiced] every morning from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., and then after school till 6:00 p.m.”
Throughout the season, these girls formed powerful memories to carry with them wherever their path leads after departing Texas High School for the very last time.
“Just being surrounded by laughter and different personalities were awesome moments that I’ll never forget,” Stiger said. “I really don’t have one [memory] to recap on because they were all so fun.”
