Lady Dragons motivated for 2016 season
The frustration from the finish of the 2015 season still burns with the returning members of the Carroll volleyball program and head coach Ryan Mitchell.
That squad, blessed with power, finesse and defensive tenacity, had all of the elements to be a state championship team. Then the Lady Dragons ran into an unorthodox style from McKinney Boyd in the Class 6A Region I quarterfinals and were ousted in five games.
What the playoffs remind everyone is that it is about matchups more than anything else. And if it’s not your day, it can end quickly.
So Mitchell decided that the best thing to do was to make sure this team was going to put that disappointment in the past and focus on what it could control: preparing for the 2016 season.
“Really, we have just kept the mindset of training in the present and making sure that everything we do has something with us looking to the now,” Mitchell said. “I know when you’re expected to win state, there is some added pressure that comes with it. But I think we understood what came with it.”
Realignment shifted Carroll into the new District 5-6A with Euless Trinity, Flower Mound, Flower Mound Marcus, Hurst L.D. Bell, Northwest Byron Nelson, Lewisville Hebron and Lewisville.
Carroll is likely still considered the favorite of the district. Marcus, Hebron and Flower Mound are expected to experience transition seasons. But the Lewisville Independent School District teams are always considered tough competition.
Lady Dragons
Head Coach: Ryan Mitchell (3rd season)
2015 record: 43-4 (lost to McKinney Boyd in 6A Region I quarterfinal round)
Starters returning: 4
Notable: The Lady Dragons feature a plethora of Division I commits, including senior middle blocker Asjia O’Neal (Texas), outside hitter Haley Hallgren (USC beach), setter Sheridan Webb (Arkansas State) and setter Lisie Kit (Clemson) … Hallgren was named the MVP to the Texas Girls Coaches Association all-star game earlier this month … this offense should be able to play fast and efficient. Mitchell said he started to experiment with that kind of style in 2015 and found that it worked really well and met the needs of what this team was capable of doing …
Rachel Meyne, who was limited to just a role player, should be more active with the offense this season. The same should be true with Lauren Johnson. Johnson offered a glimpse of her ability when she was named MVP of the Allen tournament last year … Carroll’s non-district schedule takes a dramatic turn when it opens the season Aug. 11-14 at the Ann Kang Invitational in Honolulu. Carroll is not playing in the Pearland tournament (2016 Adidas Texas Volleyball Invitational). The Lady Dragons then play in the Northwest ISD and PSA tournament in Plano ...
Like he did last year, Mitchell will use a mixture of both the 6-2 and 5-1. There is a talented sophomore in McKenzie Nichols, who should figure into those setters being considered ... Carroll’s concern will be in the serve-receive game and finding a quality libero. There are a couple of players being evaluated for that position … the roster will be set at 15. Mitchell said all but a couple of spots have been set.
This story was originally published July 20, 2016 at 9:41 AM with the headline "Lady Dragons motivated for 2016 season."