Lobos look back with pride on season
In Rhodes’ first year, Langham Creek makes statement for future
Langham Creek really responded to Gena Rhodes.
The first-year coach led the Lobos to 35 wins, a second-place finish in District 17-6A and a bi-district volleyball championship.
“We set our goals really high and the kids were determined,” Rhodes said.
“We did, with our overall record, exceed expectations. (But) in district, we all felt like we could finish as high as we did, and we set our minds to it and worked really hard.”
Langham Creek made the playoffs for the first time since 2007, when they were fourth in district and lost to Cinco Ranch in the first round.
This time they Aldine Davis in straight sets before falling to Bellaire in the area round.
“It sets our standards so much higher, and these kids really built a good platform for a positive legacy here, when it comes to Langham Creek volleyball,” Rhodes said. “Now, when people say Langham Creek volleyball, they’ll think of hard work and pushing through a lot of tough moments.
“That’s a huge change for the positive.”
The potential was there from the preseason, but Rhodes said they really came together at the New Braunfels tournament in August.
“We had really great chemistry on the team from the get-go, from our first practice, and that’s really, really rare,” Rhodes said.
“And then the New Braunfels tournament is really where the kids realized, ‘We can really do this.’ They started buying into what I was saying and believing in themselves.”
The result was a 15-3 run through district.
They split with Cy-Fair and Cypress Falls, beating the district champion Eagles in four sets in the second round.
It was the only district loss for the Eagles, who went on to the regional quarterfinals.
“That was huge,” Rhodes said. “Our passing was really good that game and we were able to run our middles, and that was key for us. And the excitement, and the crowd, (was great). Our seventh man, which is what we call them, our Wolfpack, came out for that game, so we had a lot of fans there.”
Rhodes said they’re happy with their playoff showing – but far from satisfied.
“We were all disappointed in our play against Bellaire,” she said. “Losing that match definitely will leave us hungry next year when, hopefully, we get back to area. There was disappointment in that game, in our performance and our execution. For the most part, the girls handled the pressure well, we just didn’t execute that last match.”
Only three players are
“They’re already bringing it in the workouts and leaving everything out there. They’re ready to prove we can get past area next year. So they’re very fired up, and of course I have that (Bellaire) game film, so they will be studying their mistakes. And, really, we need to improve on our volleyball IQ, because we are so young, so that’s something we’re going to focus on in the offseason.” Gena Rhodes, Langham Creek volleyball coach
graduating: Libero Samantha Marek, outside hitter Marissa Kindred and defensive specialist Torria Spell.
But all three players played key roles in the team’s success.
Kindred, who signed with Texas State and is graduating next month to join the team early, was named 17-6A Attacker of the Year.
“She was a powerhouse this year,” Rhodes said. “She did a great job of hitting the zones that I wanted her to hit, and she did it with authority.”
Marek earned district Defensive Player of the Year honors.
“Samantha Marek is a fighter,” Rhodes said. “We had kids from Falls and all over our district banging balls at us, around our blockers, and she stood her ground. She plays great reactionary defense. Her reactions are amazing. She dug some balls that motivated our hitters to put the ball away.”
Junior OH Ashley Lewis, and sophomores middle blocker Whitney Foreman and setter Delaney Anderson all earned all-district first-team honors – and all three are coming back for another run.
Lewis and junior Katie Vincer already are leading the way in the offseason.
Langham Creek also returns MB Isabelle Wilkins and utility Janna Skinner, two more of the five sophomores on the roster this season.
“They’re already bringing it in the workouts and leaving everything out there,” Rhodes said. “They’re ready to prove we can get past area next year. So they’re very fired up, and of course I have that (Bellaire) game film, so they will be studying their mistakes.
“And, really, we need to improve on our volleyball IQ, because we are so young, so that’s something we’re going to focus on in the offseason.”
And after seeing the results after her first season, the rest of District 176A would do well to keep a close eye on Rhodes’ Langham Creek squad in 2016.