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Poteet ready to chase lofty goals as 15-4A volleyball season gets started
By Devin Hasson, dhasson@acnpapers.com
Poteet is coming off another strong season in which it won 28 matches, finished second in district play and made yet another playoff appearance.
As always, the Pirates once again have big goals and the pursuit of those heats up this week with the start of District 15-4A play.
Poteet has had some ups and downs during the first month of the season, but appear headed in the right direction after improving to 10-13 overall and 1-0 in district play with Tuesday’s three-game sweep of Corsicana.
“It’s been a little bit different volleyball season so far. I’ve seen some improvement and then we’ll take a small step back,” said Lisa Lisewsky, Poteet head coach. “But overall, I’m happy and think we’re ready for district.”
The Pirates boast plenty of returning experience, with five three-year starters, 10 seniors and five juniors on the roster. But due to a number of lineup changes, Poteet has had to go through some growing pains rather than hitting the ground running.
The quintet of three-year starters includes seniors Megan Clary, Abby Arrieta, Ashley Murphy, Shambreka Jones and Kate Foster.
The adjustment for some of those players has been the increase in responsibilities, Lisewsky said. Clary has shifted from middle blocker to outside hitter, Arrieta has taken over libero duties after being a defensive specialist and Foster has moved from the right side to outside hitter. Jones and Murphy are expected to remain at their middle blocker positions.
Poteet has experience at other positions, as well.
Jessi Davis is in her second year as a setter and Teren Clay and Mallory Davis are also on their second year on the varsity.
One new face from last year’s junior varsity is Savannah White, who has taken on setting duties.
So while the Pirates have many familiar faces, they are trying to get used to their new roles on the floor.
“It is like a new team in that a lot of them are still trying to find their way,” Lisewsky said.
There have been more losses than wins to this point, but much of that has to do with the competition as Poteet has played the likes of Highland Park, Sachse, Coppell, Rowlett, Allen and Dumas. While the Pirates would have liked for better outcomes, Lisewsky has learned a lot about her team.
“What I like most right now is they don’t get down if they are behind, they have a lot of fight in them,” she said. “One thing I would like to see, though, is for us to finish better.”
Poteet is coming off a busy weekend in which it posted a 3-3 record at the Coppell Tournament.
In previous years, the Pirates had some extra time between the end of tournament season and the start of district play. But because the new 15-4A has nine teams, the start of district play was moved up, meaning Poteet had to move immediately from the tournament to Tuesday’s match against Corsicana.
“It’s different because we’re used to having another week-and-a-half before district starts,” Lisewsky said. “We’ve just gotten done with our tough part of the tournament schedule and now we’re being thrown right into the fire.”
The district race is shaping up to be a good one, led by Red Oak, which was ranked sixth in the latest Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 4A state poll. In addition to the Hawks and Pirates, Waxahachie, Terrell and Forney are all coming off playoff appearances.
While that presents a tough road, Poteet still carries lofty aspirations into the next few weeks.
“One of our main goals is to compete for the district championship and I think we have the talent to do that, we just have to make sure to put it all together when we are playing those top teams,” Lisewsky said. “Other than that, we’d really like to make the regional tournament. We came close last year and came up just short.
“If we can take care of business on our side, we can be a really good team.”
As always, the Pirates once again have big goals and the pursuit of those heats up this week with the start of District 15-4A play.
Poteet has had some ups and downs during the first month of the season, but appear headed in the right direction after improving to 10-13 overall and 1-0 in district play with Tuesday’s three-game sweep of Corsicana.
“It’s been a little bit different volleyball season so far. I’ve seen some improvement and then we’ll take a small step back,” said Lisa Lisewsky, Poteet head coach. “But overall, I’m happy and think we’re ready for district.”
The Pirates boast plenty of returning experience, with five three-year starters, 10 seniors and five juniors on the roster. But due to a number of lineup changes, Poteet has had to go through some growing pains rather than hitting the ground running.
The quintet of three-year starters includes seniors Megan Clary, Abby Arrieta, Ashley Murphy, Shambreka Jones and Kate Foster.
The adjustment for some of those players has been the increase in responsibilities, Lisewsky said. Clary has shifted from middle blocker to outside hitter, Arrieta has taken over libero duties after being a defensive specialist and Foster has moved from the right side to outside hitter. Jones and Murphy are expected to remain at their middle blocker positions.
Poteet has experience at other positions, as well.
Jessi Davis is in her second year as a setter and Teren Clay and Mallory Davis are also on their second year on the varsity.
One new face from last year’s junior varsity is Savannah White, who has taken on setting duties.
So while the Pirates have many familiar faces, they are trying to get used to their new roles on the floor.
“It is like a new team in that a lot of them are still trying to find their way,” Lisewsky said.
There have been more losses than wins to this point, but much of that has to do with the competition as Poteet has played the likes of Highland Park, Sachse, Coppell, Rowlett, Allen and Dumas. While the Pirates would have liked for better outcomes, Lisewsky has learned a lot about her team.
“What I like most right now is they don’t get down if they are behind, they have a lot of fight in them,” she said. “One thing I would like to see, though, is for us to finish better.”
Poteet is coming off a busy weekend in which it posted a 3-3 record at the Coppell Tournament.
In previous years, the Pirates had some extra time between the end of tournament season and the start of district play. But because the new 15-4A has nine teams, the start of district play was moved up, meaning Poteet had to move immediately from the tournament to Tuesday’s match against Corsicana.
“It’s different because we’re used to having another week-and-a-half before district starts,” Lisewsky said. “We’ve just gotten done with our tough part of the tournament schedule and now we’re being thrown right into the fire.”
The district race is shaping up to be a good one, led by Red Oak, which was ranked sixth in the latest Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 4A state poll. In addition to the Hawks and Pirates, Waxahachie, Terrell and Forney are all coming off playoff appearances.
While that presents a tough road, Poteet still carries lofty aspirations into the next few weeks.
“One of our main goals is to compete for the district championship and I think we have the talent to do that, we just have to make sure to put it all together when we are playing those top teams,” Lisewsky said. “Other than that, we’d really like to make the regional tournament. We came close last year and came up just short.
“If we can take care of business on our side, we can be a really good team.”
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