It’s “go time” for Edna and Industrial volleyball.
Teams across District 253A began league play on Tuesday, with Edna traveling toRice Consolidated (7-10) and Industrial hosting Tidehaven (8-11). Other Tuesday district games included Columbus (22-4) at Palacios (136) and Yoakum (7-11) at Hallettsville( 14-12).
Industrial Cobras Head Coach Tara Dunn likes most of what she’s seen so far from her varsity, ranked in two of the three statewide volleyball polls and sitting at 21-12 at the end of pre-district.
“Our players have competed really well in the preseason, placing in the top six at all of our tournaments,” Dunn said. “Our young girls have gotten some great experience up to this point, which I feel like has prepared them for what we will see in district.”
The Cobras placed sixth overall and second in the Gold Bracket of the Seguin Matador Tournament over Labor Day weekend. They also finished sixth overall and second in the Silver Bracket at the Bastrop Tournament and claimed third place in theGold Bracket of the Cuero Tournament.
But the Cobras need to maintain a more consistent level of play in 25-3A, Dunn said.
“Our biggest area of focus going into district is our consistency,” she said. “We will beat a team 25-6, then let them hang around 26-24, or (like) on Friday (against VictoriaEast) drop a set, then win 25-12.
“All of the pieces are here for us to be extremely good, and we have seen the whole team at times perform at that level. We are just trying to make that level of play more consistent each match now.”
At Edna, new Cowgirls Head Coach Jenna Buzek said she felt that her varsity squad has had some really great moments so far in the pre-district season.
“We are really working on consistency every game, but there have definitely been some great games this preseason that I have seen an outstanding team,” said Buzek, who is in her first season at the helm in Edna after several years at Industrial and Calhoun. “I’m excited to see what more they can do.”
The Cowgirls (10-16) competed in the Columbus, Schulenburg, and Goliad varsity tournaments and played individual matches against Shiner, Victoria East, Rockport Fulton, Gonzales, and Shiner St. Paul.
Now it’s on to 25-3A, including state-ranked teams at Columbus and Industrial.
“Our district is big and tough,” Buzek said. “It’s hard having a big district because there is no longer time to work things out without it counting. We have to play hard and competitive from here on out since this starts deciding who gets to the playoffs.”
Meanwhile, the Ganado Maidens have two more weeks before the six-memberDistrict 29-2A begins play.
First-year Head Coach Kayla Weixelman’s team had Tuesday off and return to action at Brazos on Friday and then at Yorktown on Tue., Sept. 16. The Maidens’ district opener is Tue., Sept. 23 at home against state-ranked Weimar.
Weixelman said she’s seen progress from her players as the 29-2A season nears.
“With each match, we are narrowing our list down to more and more specific skills, which is awesome,” Weixelman said. “We are able to put more emphasis on strategy now, and I can see the effects in my players’ confidence.
“We are adapting more quickly within matches.
These things have elevated our level of play, and have resulted in us being a more competitive and cohesive unit.”
While the district might be smaller, the level of competition is high with Shiner, a state tournament team last year, Schulenburg and Weimar both ranked this year, and talented Flatonia and Louise squads.
“We are in one of the strongest Class 2A districts in the state,” Weixelman said.
“This presents a great challenge, but my girls have been working hard, are motivated, and are not easily deterred.
We look forward to opening district play at home against Weimar.”
