Back in Action

Weimar Defeats La Grange in Season-Opening Five-Set Thriller

For the first time in five months, high school sports were back at La Grange High School.

Since pandemic precautions back in March abruptly halted high school sports, there have been no games at LHS.

But Tuesday the Lady Leps hit the court in front of about 120 mask-wearing fans to play their regular season opener against Weimar.

And even though the Lady Cats beat La Grange in a tense five-set thriller, there was victory in just getting to compete, the players said.

“It feels really good just to be able to have a season our senior year,” said Lanie Doyle, who led the Lady Leps in kills Tuesday with 21. “We felt like we weren’t going to have one.”

“As COVID would get worse and then get better we really didn’t know what would happen,” said another senior, Megan Brothers, who led La Grange in digs with 44 Tuesday. “It was very different today, quite an experience. We’re playing for a lot this year.”

Besides masks, which were worn by fans, coaches and players on the bench, there were lots of other reminders about COVID.

The teams did not shake hands prior to or after the match and did not switch sides of the court after each set.

“We don’t care (about the changes), we’re playing,” said La Grange head coach Leslie Coltrain. “It felt like volleyball, other than having to wear this (pointing to her mask).”

And after the long layoff in competition, Tuesday’s match more than delivered in terms of overdue drama.

Weimar won the first set 25- 20, before La Grange dominated the second two sets 25-11 and 25-21.

But Weimar bounced back to take the fourth set 25-18 and then grabbed the fifth set 15-13.

“That’s more volleyball than we’ve played in months. I don’t like to lose, these girls don’t like to lose, but if I have to lose I’d rather it be the first one not the last one,” Coltrain said. “We came out here and looked like a totally different team in five different sets.

“The name of the game tonight was errors, blocking errors and hitting errors, digging errors and serving errors,” Coltrain added. “If we continue to make as many errors as we did tonight we’ll have a tough time beating people. But the good thing about that is that errors can be corrected. There was nothing out there that was fundamentally flawed.”

Senior Ryann Marshall added 13 kills and two blocks.

Sophomore Maddi Fritz, in her return to action after a season-ending injury early last season, had 23 assists and a teamhigh six aces.

“She gives us a lot,” Coltrain said. “It’s nice to have her back.”

Several varsity newcomers had a big impact in Tuesday’s match for La Grange. Sophomore Hailey Hill led the team in assists with 25, sophomore Camille Gonzales played big at the net and junior Emma Coltrain had four aces.

“We have a lot of new faces and I think they stepped up really well,” Coltrain said.

Before her players left the gym Coltrain sent the girls home with a message.

“Protect our season,” she said. “Don’t do anything stupid, don’t put yourself in a situation where you know you’re putting yourself at risk. We tell them that year-in and year-out but this year it takes on a different meaning.”

The Lady Leps play Friday at Columbus and then host Needville and Splendora Saturday at noon.

Of Note: La Grange’s senior Lanie Doyle has gotten scholarship offers from LeTourneau and University of Dallas with several more schools showing interest in the star Lady Leps hitter.

8/11/20

Weimar def. LG 25-20, 11-25, 21-25, 25-18, 15-13

LG Kill leaders: Lanie Doyle - 21, Ryann Marshall -13

Assist leaders: Hailey Hill - 25, Maddi Fritz - 23

Dig Leaders: Megan Brothers - 44, Lanie Doyle - 22

Block Leaders: Ryann Marshall - 2

Ace leaders: Maddi Fritz - 6, Emma Coltrain - 4

La Grange JV lost to Weimar 20-25, 27-29

La Grange Freshmen defeated Weimar 25- 14, 25-20

The Lady Leps will play at Columbus on Friday, 8/14, with matches at 5/6/7pm.

TGCA Preseason Volleyball Poll

Texas Girls Coaches Association 2020 Preseason State Volleyball Poll August 10, 2020

Class 1A/2A

1. Crawford

2. Jewett Leon

3. Wink

4. Burton

5. Neches

6. Iola

7. Johnson City

8. Round Top-Carmine

9. Water Valley

10. Schulenburg

Class 3A

1. Vanderbilt Industrial

2. Caldwell

3. Bushland

4. Goliad

5. West

6. Van Alstyne

7. Boyd

8. Brock

9. Poth

10. Nacogdoches Central Heights

Class 4A

1. Krum

2. Hereford

3. Carthage

4. Farmersville

5. Argyle

6. La Vernia

7. Midlothian Heritage

8. Salado

9. Needville

10. Bellville