Sports

Tina Richards has made her bones coaching softball at Italy High School. A perennial power in the area, winning a number of district crowns and twice reaching the regional finals, when Richards took the wheel to also coach the volleyball team, who knew Midas touch would follow.

A three-week countdown is underway before the August 1 opening of pre-season volleyball practices awaits Ennis and area teams. HC Kelly Henderson will likely have six of the nine varsity players return from a young team whose top loss to graduation was All-District hitter Kylah Smith.

Bump, set and spikes have not produced a winning record at Class 3A Rice since going 17-12 in 2013. The Lady Bulldogs most recent trip to the playoffs occurred in 2021, when the squad went 12-16 in the regular season before losing to Lorena (39-5) in the first round.

Embarking on a new varsity tennis season, HC Keith Howard and Assistant Coach Wyatt Johnson have combined for 51-years of leading young athletes in racquet sports. Distinguished in producing winners, the fall Ennis team is set to take on another challenging schedule.

Palmer enters the new volleyball season bent on extending a streak of winning seasons to five. After a 2613 record was their best since a 25-12 mark in 2016, the Lady Bulldogs graduated eight and are set to rebuild with a younger cast of pups.

Ferris has hired a new varsity volleyball coach after losing their last two in as many years. Former three-time NAIA All-American at Oklahoma Baptist University, Kristen Pressley, was recently signed by Athletic Director Tony Castillo.

Ennis swimmer A.J. Dodson proved his status as a top tier performer in the pool last week at the Dallas YMCA championships. The seventh-grader earned numerous ribbons, placing in every event: five second-places and a third in his sixth race, which earned him a high-points trophy.

Avalon volleyball has enjoyed three straight campaigns of unbeaten district play while winning their respective district championship each year. It will be tough to keep the streak alive after 6’3 senior Brooklyn De La Garza departed to Class 3A Rio Vista.

When second-year HC Don Drake blows the first whistle at 6:45 a.m. on Monday, August 10, his newlook Lions will carry the expectations of a state playoff team.