EARLY – Realignment wasn’t kind to the Early Lady Horns volleyball program, which will see many of the same opponents in the extremely competitive District 8-3A. Couple with that, a rash of injuries are presenting the Lady Horns with a different lineup than originally expected. Still, second-year head coach Missy Vaughn and her squad are pressing on as the 2022 campaign begins Tuesday.
The Lady Horns will visit former district rival Bangs at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Bangs was replaced by Breckenridge in District 8-3A, while the rest of the league remained intact – Brock, Comanche, Dublin, Eastland, Millsap and Peaster.
“We added Breckenridge in place of Bangs, but we still have Brock, Peaster and Millsap,” said Vaughn, whose team posted a 4-10 district record and 14-20 overall mark a year ago. “We’re just going to have to compete. Come out and play our type of volleyball, be intense and be ready to make plays.”
Vaughn returns half of the starting lineup from last year’s squad and is counting on some new faces to make early and immediate impacts.
“We have three returners coming back,” Vaughn said. “We had some injuries late last year that set us back for volleyball this year. Those kids are working hard to get back, but overall the group that we have coming up has stepped in and filled some shoes, filled some roles. I’m excited about that. The camaraderie between this group of girls, there’s lots of communication, lots of enthusiasm, and lots of support from each other.”
Among the players to watch are Mattyson Boswell, who Vaughn called the team’s main vocal leader, along with Trinity Torrez and Madison Torrez, as well as Gabby Leal. New additions who will be heavily relied on include Stoney Laughlin, Dakota Barksdale, and Averey Horton.
“Everybody is filling their roles, which is a great thing,” Vaughn said.
Following Tuesday’s match with Bangs, the Lady Horns’ pre-district slate includes Veribest, Cornerstone Christian, Merkel, Hawley, Coleman and appearances in the Veribest and Bronte tournaments.
Regarding the goals of the pre-district portion of the schedule, Vaughn said, “I’d like to see a little bit more intensity and that comes with playing at this level. With only three returners coming back, a lot of the girls are coming up from the JV level, but they played the entire time last year. Now they have to pick up the game at the varsity level.”
Early opens the 14-game district slate on Sept. 10 at Comanche.
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EARLY LADY HORNS 2022 VARSITY VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
| Aug. 9 | at Bangs | 6:30 p.m. |
| Aug. 12-13 | at Veribest tournament | TBA |
| Aug. 16 | Veribest | 5:30 p.m. |
| Aug. 20 | Cornerstone Christian | 1 p.m. |
| Aug. 23 | at Merkel | 6 p.m. |
| Aug. 26-27 | at Bronte tournament | TBA |
| Aug. 30 | Hawley | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 6 | Coleman | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 10 | at Comanche* | Noon |
| Sept. 13 | at Breckenridge* | Noon |
| Sept. 17 | Early* | Noon |
| Sept. 20 | at Peaster* | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 24 | Eastland* | Noon |
| Sept. 27 | at Brock* | 5:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 30 | at Millsap* | 6:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 4 | Comanche* | 6:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 8 | Breckenridge* | Noon |
| Oct. 11 | at Dublin* | 6:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 15 | Peaster* | Noon |
| Oct. 18 | at Eastland* | 6:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 22 | Brock* | Noon |
| Oct. 25 | Millsap* | 6:30 p.m. |
* District 8-3A Game