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Battle tested: Lady Raccoons enter season with playoff experience
BY Chris O’Dell, codell@starlocalnews.com
After failing to qualify for the postseason in seven consecutive years, the Frisco volleyball team finally broke through for a playoff berth last season after going 9-5 against district counterparts.
Despite posting a 30-14 record though, the team’s best mark since 2004, the Lady Raccoons fell in the opening round of the playoffs in a tightly-contested match against Rockwall-Heath.
That experience should pay off for multiple returners from last season’s team.
Frisco returns key players in junior Kaitlyn Kearney, plus seniors Allie Evans, Abby Ludeman, Sydney Fischer and libero Mishal Torres.
Kearney, who led the team in kills and blocks last season, was the team’s biggest offensive weapon a year ago and figures to have a featured role for the Lady Raccoons in 2012.
Ludeman is a similar player from the right side that specializes in strong blocks and aggressive swings. With outside hitter Evans, libero Torres and setter Fischer also in the mix, Frisco will look to improve on last season’s third-place finish in district and first-round playoff exit.
“They have those same goals,” Litchford said. “They want to be in that same spot we were in last year.”
The Lady Raccoons opened their season Tuesday night with a straight-set victory over Denton Ryan.
“I was really pleased to beat a team like Denton Ryan in three sets,” Litchford said. “[Ryan] has a really good tradition of winning and we really rose to the occasion against them.”
The team was slated for a 6:30 p.m. match against Frisco Lone Star Thursday (results not available as of press time) before taking part in the Denton Ryan Kick-Off Classic.
“We got our first win under our belt already,” Litchford said. “We just want to continue to improve and add different things to our game.”
When district action begins next month, the Lady Raccoons will have several new faces after new district alignments from the UIL.
Joining the Frisco ISD schools in 9-4A will be Prosper, Little Elm and The Colony while the Carrollton ISD schools move to a separate district.
“This district is going to be very competitive,” Litchford said. “It’ll be a fight every single night. There’s a lot of talent.”
The Denton Ryan tournament should give Litchford and her team a first-hand look at some of those teams with the likes of Prosper, Wakeland, Little Elm and Heritage also in the tourney.
“It should give us a chance to see several of the teams in our district,” Litchford said. “That will be helpful.”
The Lady Raccoons are scheduled for three games today at Ryan with their tournament opener set for 9 a.m. and later games at noon and 4:30 p.m.
“We’re excited about our team,” Litchford said. “We have a great group.”
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