HS Volleyball: Lady Highlanders Prepare for District Run With the Title in Their Sights

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- Following a season that saw a district rival win a State Championship, The Woodlands Lady Highlanders are preparing for an all-in push to reclaim the top spot in 13-6A.

2023 saw The Woodlands contend with top-notch competition regularly, whether during out-of-district play or through a tough run through 13-6A. Playoff teams like Bridgeland, Episcopal, Northwest, and eventual State Runners-Up Cinco Ranch dotted the pre-district schedule.

These tough opponents prepared the Lady Highlanders to mount a near-perfect run through 13-6A. A 2-0 run was quickly shut down by the indomitable Grand Oaks Lady Grizzlies, who ended the season with a State Title and a 50-1 overall record. A tough loss to rivals College Park a week later would be the lowest point for the team, awakening a renewed energy within them.

The Lady Highlanders won nine of their last ten games through district, avenging their loss to the Lady Cavaliers to secure 2nd Place in the final district standings. Their spot in a competitive 13-6A gave the team a shot at a deep playoff run, but their opponents would test them every step of the way.

A virtual warm-up match against Aldine Davis saw the Lady Highlanders come out with a win in straight sets, but their round two match against Cypress Ranch would push the team to its limit.

The Lady Mustangs entered the playoffs as unbeaten champions of District 16-6A and as the 23rd-best team in Texas according to MaxPreps.

Cy Ranch would continue to press their momentum during the match's opening set by winning 25-22 to go up one. But, the determination in the Lady Highlanders refused to let Head Coach Terri Wade and her girls down, ending the affair in a hard-fought win for The Woodlands at three sets to two.

Unfortunately for the Lady Highlanders, their road would end against Tomball Memorial, in a two set to three loss that sent The Woodlands home in bitter defeat.

With the lessons taken from last year’s disappointing end, the Lady Highlanders enter the run-up to the 2024 district schedule with their sights set on the district title. Another adversity-filled pre-district schedule has tested the team and prepared them for another shot at a District 13-6A that looks as tough as last.

New tendencies, new rotations, and new players bring new challenges to the table that must be overcome before district play starts and the stakes of playoffs and championships come into the picture.

In an exclusive interview with The Woodlands Online Sports, Head Coach Terri Wade spoke on the tendencies and mindsets that the team has been working on in preparation for the district opener.

“One thing we found through tournament play is that you always have to be prepared to play with anyone beside you,” said Wade. “We kind of get used to one rotation and you want to practice that rotation because you feel comfortable and you learn each other, but the next thing you know someone gets injured, someone is sick, something happens, and there's a little chaos.”

Needing to prepare for any and all eventualities, Wade and her players are learning to adjust on the fly to rely on the strengths of the team and their teammates.

“We’re learning to play through everything,” explained Wade. “We don’t really ever practice with one rotation. We practice so that everybody gets a shot.”

New looks for players trying to prove their worth to the team have given Coach Wade the building blocks to adjust her team mid-set to suit her needs. Trust built up from experimenting with new rotations and the inherent chemistry between teammates gives the Lady Highlanders a leg-up in the strategy department.

“They are building their team chemistry among each other, not just one group of players, but every player that could step in for us,” said Wade. “It’s hard to trust what the player next to you is going to do if you’ve never played beside them, and because of that, they learn to power through that adversity by trusting their teammates.”

From the player’s perspective, the emphasis on new rotations has helped to keep the emotions on the team positive. At the same time, the players are finding it easier to hold one another accountable in a sport where every point matters.

“It's mostly been about team chemistry,” said Senior Libero Cameron McDaniel. “I think it's a big deal to be able to talk through your problems on the court while the game is going on and to get over it before the next play.”

The connection between players on the court has allowed the team to mature into a comfortable group that calls out issues while simultaneously building one another up throughout matches.

“I would describe it as constructive criticism,” said McDaniel. “Being able to talk through situations and having different things you can do for each different play is a good thing to have.”

Senior Outside-Hitter Abby Lewis shares a similar opinion but with a greater focus on the positive connection between the veteran players on the team who are hungry to compete.

“We have mostly returners on the team and starting core, so it’s definitely more of a family vibe,” said Lewis. “But there are also times when no one is afraid to talk to each other.”

With Coach Wade’s and the rest of the girls’ hard work put into building the Lady Highlanders into a contending team, the march toward district began. The team currently sits at 5-4 on the season, with one pre-district match remaining against Katy Jordan before facing the Reigning State Champion Grand Oaks Lady Grizzlies to start district.

But even with a daunting task ahead of the Lady Highlanders, the goal remains the same, a district title.

“We definitely want to win a district championship,” said Wade. “In the past, I’ve been able to foresee in the offseason that we’re going to be a strong, top-of-the-state team. And I usually know it and I feel like we really are.”

Grand Oaks as the opening test of the district will be a tough task to overcome given the caliber of players returning for the Lady Grizzlies. In addition, College Park will give the Lady Highlanders a run for their money with multiple returners. But with the road ahead of them, confidence, trust, and determination will look to fuel The Woodlands on its hopeful path to a district championship.