Lady Dragons appear the favorites for district title

Making a transition from one volleyball powerhouse program to another isn’t as easy as it sounds. There are different paths taken toward reaching the summit.

When Ryan Mitchell came from Lucas Lovejoy to Carroll last year, coaching actually was the easier part. The ancillary elements became the challenge.

“Anytime you go to a new place, it’s more stressful in that you’re trying to find out where things are at, ordering equipment and just making sure everything is organized,” Mitchell said. “It was really those things that took away from the X’s and O’s.”

Still, his debut season in 2014 didn’t turn out all that bad. Carroll won 44 games and advanced to the Class 6A Region I semifinals before falling to Amarillo, which advanced to the state semifinals.

Now, Mitchell’s sophomore season presents different dynamics. It’s a more inexperienced team. But the potential to go even further this fall is real.

“This team is good,” Mitchell said. “They’re probably in the state’s Top 5 or Top 10 teams. But when we get to playing them, can we swing with the best of them?”

After Colleyville Heritage incurred some key losses as well as head coach Jamie Siegel moving over to Keller, Carroll should be the favorite to win the District 7-6A championship. Coppell will always provide a challenge, along with Colleyville Heritage. Euless Trinity could be the other team looking for a playoff berth.

Coach: Ryan Mitchell (2nd season)

2014 record: (44-4, 2nd in District 7-6A; lost to Amarillo in the 6A Region I semifinals)

Returning starters/key letter winners: Haley Hallgren, Jr. OH (6-0); Megan Porter, Sr., OH (6-1); Elizabeth Augustini Sr. MB (6-1); Asjia O’Neal, So. MB (6-2); Lisie Kit, Jr. S (5-11); Remy Faichild, Sr. OH (6-0)

Notable: The key move Mitchell is making this fall is that he is switching from a 6-2 to a 5-1. That means he’s sticking with Kit as his setter for all six rotations. But there’s a reason for that. Mitchell wants to take advantage of Kit’s height and physical style to play the front row and be an offensive presence. “Her ability to be a force could cause some problems at the net,” Mitchell said. “If she can develop a jump set, she’s going to freeze the block on the other side of the net. And because of that, the other middles have to stay.” … if for some reason Mitchell doesn’t get the production he’s looking for, then he can turn to the other setter in junior Sheridan Webb (5-10) … Carroll scrimmaged Hurst L.D. Bell, Arlington, Prosper, Flower Mound, Bishop Lynch, Lucas Lovejoy, Rockwall Heath and McKinney Boyd over the weekend …. Carroll opens in the Pearland tournament this weekend and then plays in the Allen and Plano tournaments. “We have some players who are now asked to carry the load,” Mitchell said. “That’s new for them.” … Porter has verbally committed to Texas State, Kit has committed to Clemson, Fairchild has committed to Villanova. Hallgren has committed to USC’s beach volleyball program … Mitchell is in line to pick up his 400th career victory at some point this season.

This story was originally published August 10, 2015 at 3:38 PM with the headline "Lady Dragons appear the favorites for district title."