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History Lesson
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| Members of the Magnolia High volleyball team show they are No. 1 at a send-off for the team Wednesday at Magnolia High School. To view or purchase this photo, and others like it, visit http://hcnonline.mycapture.com. |
By Jay Langley
Hereford has a history of being a thorn in the side of the Magnolia High volleyball team – a history of which the current Lady Bulldogs (32-13) are well aware.
Magnolia High is making its fifth trip to the state volleyball tournament. The Lady Bulldogs face Hereford (43-3) in the Class 4A semifinals at 5 p.m. today at Strahan Coliseum on the campus of Texas State Univeristy.
In three previous trips to the state tournament, it was Hereford who ended Magnolia’s run.
“We stood in the gym and looked at all the banners of the past Magnolia teams,” current Lady Bulldogs’ coach Terri Johnson said. “We talked about all the former players and former teams and wanting to win for them.”
In 1995 Hereford defeated the Lady Bulldogs in the semifinals. The following two seasons the Lady Whitefaces beat Magnolia in the state finals.
“We are playing this match for all the players from the past, present and future,” said senior libero Hannah Davies.
Davies, who tore her labrum cartilage during the summer and will have career-ending surgery at the end of the season, said her team welcomes the challenge of representing all the players who came before them.
“We have the type of team that can handle the extra pressure,” she said. “If anything it motivates us to play harder for the past players.”
Marisa May, who currently teaches an advanced math course at Magnolia High School, was on the Lady Bulldogs squad which lost to Hereford in 1995.
“These girls have worked so hard to keep up the Magnolia tradition of being successful,” May said. “I hope they just go out there and give it everything they have.
“If they play their hardest they have no reason to hang their heads regardless of if they win or lose.”
As a member of the Magnolia High volleyball team May reached the state tournament twice having first gone in 1993. The teacher had a few words of advice for this crop of Lady Bulldogs who will be playing in their first state tournament today.
“I remember feeling a great sense of accomplishment the first time because Magnolia was not the volleyball powerhouse it is today and it was new to us,” May said. “But I think we were just happy to be there.
“These girls need to play to win and not just be satisfied with making it.”
The 2008 Whitefaces are ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by the Texas Girls Coaches Association.
“They are good but we are not going to let that intimidate us at all,” Davies said.
Hereford enjoys one of the longest winning streaks in the state having not lost a match since Aug. 22.
“They are a solid team that doesn’t make a lot of mistakes,” Johnson said. “And Hereford has a history of beating Magnolia. But 2008 changes that history.”
State volleyball pairings
Strahan Coliseum, Texas State University
TODAY
Conference 2A semifinals
Conterville (45-1) vs. Wallis Brazos (33-10), 1 p.m.
Pottsboro (36-5) vs. Bushland (31-12), 3 p.m.
Conference 4A semifinals
Magnolia (32-13) vs. Hereford (43-3), 5 p.m.
Highland Park (38-8) vs. Lake Travis (37-9), 7 p.m.
FRIDAY
Conference 1A semifinals
Albany (42-0) vs. Iola (38-3), 9 a.m.
Windthorst (39-3) vs. Shiner (31-6), 11 a.m.
Conference 3A semifinals
Lucas Lovejoy (38-5) vs. Caldwell (29-14), 1 p.m.
Bellville (37-7) vs. Brownwood (32-9), 3 p.m.
Conference 5A semifinals
Amarillo (46-3) vs. Clear Lake (41-4), 5 p.m.
Lake Highlands (45-4) vs. Austin Westlake (39-7), 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
Conference 1A final, 9 a.m.
Conference 2A final, 11 a.m.
Conference 3A final, 1 p.m.
Conference 4A final, 3 p.m.
Conference 5A final, 5 p.m.
Magnolia High is making its fifth trip to the state volleyball tournament. The Lady Bulldogs face Hereford (43-3) in the Class 4A semifinals at 5 p.m. today at Strahan Coliseum on the campus of Texas State Univeristy.
In three previous trips to the state tournament, it was Hereford who ended Magnolia’s run.
“We stood in the gym and looked at all the banners of the past Magnolia teams,” current Lady Bulldogs’ coach Terri Johnson said. “We talked about all the former players and former teams and wanting to win for them.”
In 1995 Hereford defeated the Lady Bulldogs in the semifinals. The following two seasons the Lady Whitefaces beat Magnolia in the state finals.
“We are playing this match for all the players from the past, present and future,” said senior libero Hannah Davies.
Davies, who tore her labrum cartilage during the summer and will have career-ending surgery at the end of the season, said her team welcomes the challenge of representing all the players who came before them.
“We have the type of team that can handle the extra pressure,” she said. “If anything it motivates us to play harder for the past players.”
Marisa May, who currently teaches an advanced math course at Magnolia High School, was on the Lady Bulldogs squad which lost to Hereford in 1995.
“These girls have worked so hard to keep up the Magnolia tradition of being successful,” May said. “I hope they just go out there and give it everything they have.
“If they play their hardest they have no reason to hang their heads regardless of if they win or lose.”
As a member of the Magnolia High volleyball team May reached the state tournament twice having first gone in 1993. The teacher had a few words of advice for this crop of Lady Bulldogs who will be playing in their first state tournament today.
“I remember feeling a great sense of accomplishment the first time because Magnolia was not the volleyball powerhouse it is today and it was new to us,” May said. “But I think we were just happy to be there.
“These girls need to play to win and not just be satisfied with making it.”
The 2008 Whitefaces are ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by the Texas Girls Coaches Association.
“They are good but we are not going to let that intimidate us at all,” Davies said.
Hereford enjoys one of the longest winning streaks in the state having not lost a match since Aug. 22.
“They are a solid team that doesn’t make a lot of mistakes,” Johnson said. “And Hereford has a history of beating Magnolia. But 2008 changes that history.”
State volleyball pairings
Strahan Coliseum, Texas State University
TODAY
Conference 2A semifinals
Conterville (45-1) vs. Wallis Brazos (33-10), 1 p.m.
Pottsboro (36-5) vs. Bushland (31-12), 3 p.m.
Conference 4A semifinals
Magnolia (32-13) vs. Hereford (43-3), 5 p.m.
Highland Park (38-8) vs. Lake Travis (37-9), 7 p.m.
FRIDAY
Conference 1A semifinals
Albany (42-0) vs. Iola (38-3), 9 a.m.
Windthorst (39-3) vs. Shiner (31-6), 11 a.m.
Conference 3A semifinals
Lucas Lovejoy (38-5) vs. Caldwell (29-14), 1 p.m.
Bellville (37-7) vs. Brownwood (32-9), 3 p.m.
Conference 5A semifinals
Amarillo (46-3) vs. Clear Lake (41-4), 5 p.m.
Lake Highlands (45-4) vs. Austin Westlake (39-7), 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
Conference 1A final, 9 a.m.
Conference 2A final, 11 a.m.
Conference 3A final, 1 p.m.
Conference 4A final, 3 p.m.
Conference 5A final, 5 p.m.
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