Panola
College opens volleyball season on the road
Longview News
Journal
Friday, August 22, 2008
The Panola College Fillies, under first-year head coach Nicole McCray, open the 2008 volleyball season today in Pasadena at the San Jacinto College Invitational.
The Fillies will play twice today and two more times Saturday — beginning a stretch of 12 matches away from home before returning to Johnson Gymnasium to host Jarvis Christian College on Sept. 4.
McCray, a former Pine Tree High School standout, is anxious to see her team in action this weekend.
''It's early in the season,'' she said. ''We scrimmaged once against Texas College, but we're still learning about each other. We're young in so many positions, but I'm looking forward to the San Jacinto Tournament because we'll know a lot more about where we stand after that.''
The Fillies will face Wharton at 1 p.m. and San Jacinto at 7 p.m. today and then meet Coastal at 1 p.m. and Galveston at 5 p.m. Saturday.
McCray welcomes back six sophomores from a 2007 squad that finished 20-9 and reached the conference tournament semifinals before losing to Blinn.
Back for the Fillies are Hallsville's Kourtney Adams, along with Britney Fruge, Katie Dugie, Meagen Olivier, Luisa Rodrigues and Cynthia Barros. Adams and Fruge were second team all-conference picks last season, while Dugie, Rodrigues and Barros were honorable mention selections.
''We have a great foundation with six returning players,'' McCray said. ''I know my team will work hard. I think that is the first thing people will notice about this team ... its work ethic.''
McCray was a four-year standout at Pine Tree High School, racking up 1,256 kills, 684 digs, 544 service points and 581 blocks, helping lead the Lady Pirates to a 106-25 record in four seasons.
The Lady Pirates were 28-7, 23-9, 28-5 and 27-4 in her high school career. She was named to the Texas Girls Coaches Association All-State teams in 1996 and 1997 and was an honorable mention pick in 1995.
She was also a Texas Sports Writers Association Class 4A All-State pick following her senior season.
McCray played four seasons at the University of Florida, helping lead the Gators to the 2002 NCAA Final Four. When she graduated from Florida, she was fourth on the school's career kills list (1,274), seven in hitting percentage (.352), eighth in games played (442), 10th in total attacks (2,533) and 10th in matches played (137).
Her previous coaching experience includes stints at Georgia Southern and Berry College.
Panola competes in NJCAA Region XIV with Paris, Tyler, Blinn and Navarro.