Monday, September 16, 2024
The Evant High School varsity volleyball team has begun their season under the guidance of coach JoAnna Vaden. This will be her fourth year at Evant Independent School District.
“I am very excited for this year with this group of girls; they had a great season last year,” Vaden said. “We are all working hard to repeat and improve on last year's accomplishments.”
Last year, the team was comprised of 10 ladies, and this year there are nine returners.
“I have had the privilege and opportunity to coach this year's seniors since they were freshmen on varsity,” Vaden said. “I love the sport and enjoy watching girls who participate in the sport learn the skills it takes to compete and, hopefully, they will fall in love with the sport as well.”
Vaden expressed that the girls reached the regional semifinals last year, and that the team is working to get to that point again this year to exceed that goal as well.
The Lady Elks recently played in a tournament held at Meridian Independent School District this past Thursday, Aug. 15.
During the tournament, the team defeated Gustine 25-12, 25-14.
The stats include: Harley Weeks, six aces, 19 assists, and two digs; Jolyce Acosta, two aces, 1 kill, and three digs; Molly Waldrum, six aces, 11 kills, and one dig; Bree Ramirez, two kills, one assist, and three digs; Luwi Rodriguez, four kills and seven digs; Izzy Gandy, one ace, four kills, and two digs.
The Lady Elks also defeated Jonesboro 25-20, 25-18.
The stats include: Harley Weeks, one ace, six kills, 16 assists, and five digs; Jolyce Acosta, one ace and four digs; Molly Waldrum, three aces, nine kills, and nine digs; Bree Ramirez, one ace, three kills, one assist, and seven digs; Luwi Rodriguez, one kill, one assist, and 10 digs; Izzy Gandy, two aces, five kills, and four digs.
In the last game of the Meridian tournament, the ladies defeated Zephyr 25-15, 25-18.
The stats include: Harley Weeks, four kills, 13 assists, and seven digs; Jolyce Acosta, one ace and three digs; Molly Waldrum, five aces, four kills, one assist, three digs, and one block; Bree Ramirez, six aces, six kills, one assist, and five digs; Luwi Rodriguez, one kill, two assists, and eight digs; Izzy Gandy, five kills and nine digs.
On day two, the Lady Elks lost their first game to Lipan 16-25, 21-25. Regarding day two of the tournament, Head Volleyball Coach JoAnna Vaden expressed, “The girls lost the first match of the day but worked extremely hard and made their way back into the championship game.”
The team came back and defeated Jonesboro 18-25, 25-20, 15-11.
The stats include: Harley Weeks, 11 points, four aces, two kills, and four digs; Jolyce Acosta, nine points, three aces, and 12 digs; Molly Waldrum, nine points, four aces, 14 kills, and nine digs; Bree Ramirez, two points, two aces, three kills, and seven digs; Daritza Escamilla, one point and four digs; Izzy Gandy, five points, six kills, and 13 digs.
The ladies also defeated Lipan 25-16, 25-20 and lost to Valor Prep 16-25, 21-25.
Both junior varsity and varsity volleyball competed in Waco at Bishop Reicher on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
Junior varsity lost to Bishop Reicher 17-25, 12-25.
The stats include: Maya Reynolds, one ace, one kill, one assist, and two digs; Lexis King, one kill and three digs; Bella Kolajo, two digs; Eloisa Garza, four aces, one kill, and two digs; Madison Barron, one ace, one kill, one assist, and one dig; Daisy Morales, two aces and two digs.
The varsity Lady Elks won against Bishop Reicher 25-13, 25-15, 25-15.
The stats include: Harley Weeks, six points, one ace, three kills, 21 assists, and six digs; Jolyce Acosta, 13 points, two aces, one kill, and seven digs; Molly Waldrum, eight points, five aces, 14 kills, five digs, and one block; Bree Ramirez, seven points, six kills, three assists, and eight digs; Luwi Rodriguez, three points, two aces, two kills, one assist, and 17 digs; Izzy Gandy, five points, one ace, six kills, and 16 digs; Daritza Escamilla, one dig.
The Lady Elks will attend practices four to five days a week, depending on tournaments and how many games are played during that time.
“I believe that they can learn so many things from volleyball that they can use their entire life,” Vaden said. “Hard work, sportsmanship, teamwork, dedication, and commitment are all qualities that we strive to develop and achieve in our program.”
The Lady Elks have set the tone for their season with a 6-2 record and will play in a tournament held in Moody from Aug. 22 to Aug. 24.
