Despite coming off a last-place finish in the district standings last year, there are plenty of reasons for optimism for the Odessa High volleyball team this season.
For one, the Lady Bronchos return six players on varsity.
Odessa High will be hoping to turn that experience into more victories on the floor this fall and try to challenge for a playoff spot.
“We’re going to have a strong, returning group that’s going to have a lot of leadership and experience on the court,” head coach Cody Dominguez said, who is entering his third season at Odessa High. “It’s going to help us bring up the girls that we’re hoping to bring up to varsity and be able to put them underneath their wings.”
Last year’s team went 14-15 overall, 1-9 in district play but had numerous close games.
The Lady Bronchos’ lone district win from last year came in a four-set victory against Midland High.
“It’s crazy how much we have improved,” Dominguez said. “You just felt that when we started the summer workouts, how the girls on varsity wanted to better themselves. They’re really pushing themselves to work together and jell more as a team. Coming in, we’re feeling more comfortable playing with each other and we’re hoping to get better.”
With the work his players have put in during the offseason, Dominguez is eager to see his team’s potential.
The team held its first practice earlier this week back on Monday.
“We’re super excited,” Dominguez said. “We’re glad to be back and glad to be putting all the work that we’ve done over the summer on the court.”
The returning players include Clarissa Rodriguez, Clarissa Deleon, Gabriela Padron, Yarissa Galindo, Julia Jalomos and Aliyna Gonzalez, just to name a few as the team looks to capitalize with a more experienced roster.
Rodriguez was named to last year’s First Team All-District squad.
“I’m going to have my outside hitter Clarissa Rodriguez returning,” Dominguez said. “She’s a huge standout. She’s excited. She’s been putting in the work. Clarrissa Deleon is another returning player. Those two have been working hard during the summer at strength and conditioning. They’re gelling and getting better. That’s a huge improvement. Then, there’s my middles. They’re working on being faster. We have Gabriella Pardon and Yarissa Galindo, those two are going to be my middles that are going out there and getting better every day and getting faster. We have Julia Jalomos who’s going to be a junior outside hitter. She’s improved a lot. We’re also switching up our DS and liberos. I have my DS coming back and she’s going to be a starting libero right now. We have a huge returning group that’s coming back.”
After the first week of practice, Dominguez is already aware of his team’s improvements from a year ago.
“Going with the improvements from last year to this year, I’m excited,” Dominguez said. “The girls are excited. We just have the excitement throughout. Coming into district, we’re eager to compete. The work that we’ve done from day one of last year to this year has been huge. We’re just ready to get going.”
Wolfforth Frenship is coming off a district title from last year while Midland Legacy, San Angelo Central and Permian all made the playoffs.
Dominguez knows District 2-6A will be another challenge this year.
“I know the competition knows exactly what we’re doing,” Dominguez said. “We’re putting in the work every day in the gym and off the court. We know that coming in, it’s going to be a tough district. We always have a tough district. We’re coming in and putting in the work just like our opponents are doing.”
