The Woodlands racing toward ultimate goal
The Woodlands volleyball players had the 2012 state tournament circled on their calendars. A year after winning the regional title, the Lady Highlanders returned virtually intact.
When they lost in the second round of the Region II-5A playoffs last season, they were left to wonder what happened.
That feeling is carrying the team in 2013. It could not be doing a better job.
After opening district play with a sweep of Conroe on Friday night, The Woodlands is 25-0 and ranked No. 1 in the state by every poll. The Lady Highlanders also are No. 2 in MaxPrep’s Xcellent 25 national rankings.
The perfect records don’t stop with the varsity team. The junior varsity and both freshmen teams are undefeated. After Friday’s matches the entire program is a combined 61-0.
Coach Leslie Madison said the key to this year’s varsity success has been the players’ work ethic. They know they’re good, but they don’t practice like it.
“We have seven seniors this year who didn’t like finishing that way (last year),” coach Leslie Madison said. “A couple of those seniors were on the state tournament team as freshmen. They know what it’s like to get there and they want to get back.”
Next-level talent
Those two seniors are setter Courtney Eckenrode and libero Kelly Quinn. Eckenrode started from day one, and Quinn played a pivotal role early.
Eckenrode committed to San Diego State. Quinn pledged to LSU. They’re just the start of a hefty list of college recruits. Six of their teammates also are headed to Division I universities.
Senior Madison McDaniel committed to Arizona State and intends to play setter there. For The Woodlands, though, she’s playing outside hitter because that’s what the team needs.
Junior middle blocker Rachel Reed pledged to Southern California. Senior middle blocker Morgan Eason is going to Texas State. Senior right side Maddie White and junior outside hitter Julia Pasch both committed to Louisiana-Lafayette.
“They’ve definitely earned the opportunity to play at the next level,” Madison said. “The best thing about them is they’re a great team. They like each other and they have great chemistry.”
That chemistry showed on the second day of the Texas Volleyball Invitational. In the first round of the gold bracket The Woodlands fell behind Allen 12-4 in the first game of their best-of-three match. The Lady Highlanders rallied to win that game 25-20 and then swept the match.
The next day they beat Highland Park, Southlake Carroll and Coppell en route to the title at the nation’s biggest tournament.
Focus the key to success
In the semifinals against Southlake Carroll they trailed the second game 24-19 before winning fivestraight points. Though the Lady Highlanders lost that game, they won the decisive game.
Madison was not surprised. She’s coaching a veteran group that has been through tough matches.
“They’re pretty resilient,” Madison “When they do get down they stay pretty calm”
The Woodlands also won a tournament in Magnolia, but the one that matters most is the UIL postseason. The Lady Highlanders likely will go into that one as the favorite. Madison said the most important thing for her players is to stay focused.
In 2005, Madison coached The Woodlands to a playoff upset of No. 1-ranked Austin Bowie. Madison said the Lady Highlanders, who finished third in their district that year, had no business beating Bowie that night.
There’s no reason to think it can’t happen again the other way around.
“We can’t have an off game,” Madison said. “Just because you’re supposed to win in volleyball doesn’t mean you’re going to win. We have a target on our back.”