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We've only just begun: Lady Leopards view district title as but a stop in 'Drive for Five'
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
The final weeks of the volleyball regular season are supposed to be the time where district championships are won, playoff spots are decided and seasons are ended.
For Lovejoy, the last two weeks have been spent preparing for where they've expected to be all year: the postseason.
"We've been focused on getting our playoff rotations down," said Ryan Mitchell, Lovejoy head coach. "We've got 10 seniors on this team (including outside hitter Mallorie Puckett, who has already won three state titles), so we have a bigger roster than usual and we've been able to play most of those girls throughout district to help develop depth and see what players can do in certain situations. But we will probably only have nine or 10 girls get a lot of playing time in the playoffs, so we need to get the right girls into the right spots."
For much of the second half of the season, it seemed as if that match would be Wylie's opportunity to force a tie in District 13-4A. The Lady Pirates, however, were upset last week by Royse City, ensuring Lovejoy would win the district regardless of Tuesday's outcome.
That didn't change the mindset of the Lady Leopards, who have been ranked No. 1 in Class 4A all year, as they completed a 14-0 run through 13-4A without dropping a set. That win was the 17th straight for a Lovejoy team that is 40-4 overall and hasn't lost since August.
"It's been a while since we have been tested, so I have some concern there," Mitchell said. "But the history of this team suggests we'll be ready come playoffs."
Just to be sure, the team has a backup plan.
Lovejoy travels to Colleyville Heritage at 4 p.m. Friday for a warm-up match against a Lady Panthers squad that beat the Lady Leopards in the NIKE Pearland Invitational.
"We are going right into the fire Friday," Mitchell said.
That is nothing new for Lovejoy, which has faced powerhouse squads McKinney Boyd and Lake Travis in previous playoff warm-ups.
"We always try to find the best team to play we can; usually one we've lost to," Mitchell said. "And I think Friday will answer a lot of questions for us. We are going to go all out in that match and it should be a good indicator because we won't face anyone in our region that is as good as Colleyville Heritage."
Leading Friday's charge will be a trio of players (seniors Lucy Tweedie, Brooke Ray and Bailey Martin) that have stepped up in recent weeks.
Tweedie, who was injured for all of Lovejoy's losses, has returned with a vengeance.
"You are talking about a 6-foot-1 blocker that can touch 10 feet on the right side," Mitchell said. "Lucy really helps out defensively and then is another big weapon for us to use on offense."
While not as large in stature, Ray and Martin have been big for the defense as well.
"I think our team will go as far as our defensive corps can take us," Mitchell said.
Following Friday's warm-up match with Heritage, Lovejoy will begin the playoffs Monday or Tuesday against either Hallsville or Mount Pleasant.
Though the reigning four-time Class 3A State Champion Lady Leopards have changed classifications (up to 4A) and the state tournament has changed locations (from San Marcos to Garland), making it back to state remains Lovejoy's goal.
"I think everyone is excited right now because this is the time of year where everything really matters," Mitchell said. "And I've never been one to shy away from talking about state; everyone's goal is to get to that point and I feel like we have a team to get there."
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