By Jack Walker

Staff Writer

The Lady Bulldogs finished up their volleyball scrimmage schedule over the past weekend, hosting teams from Aubrey, Van Alstyne, Little Elm and Collinsville as they kicked off the 2010 season.

Howe bounced back after a disappointing opener against Van Alstyne and played much better in a 25-minute set against Collinsville. Taylor Lewers got the home team off to a positive start, serving out a 5-0 run against the Lady Pirates. Ashton James, one of just three seniors on the Bulldog team, had a cross court winner for Howe that helped keep that run alive. James, Tiffani Batchelor and Brittnni Smith are the only seniors on the Howe varsity squad.

Collinsville battled back to make the set pretty even until a pair of kills by Jade Covington found the floor to spark another Howe run. Madison Wilson served a pair of aces to ignite another run by the Lady Bulldogs.

After the matches concluded on Saturday we got the chance to briefly visit with second year Lady Bulldog coach Debbie Venteicher and ask about her early impressions of her team.

"As you know we are extremely young this season and it's just going to take some time putting our best effort together." We really miss the play of Paige and Maddie Potter from last season." "I think Madison Wilson is going to be a more than capable setter when she gets comfortable in that role." I think we had a massive improvement from Friday's play to today."

The Lady Bulldogs opened the season Tuesday night, hosting Pilot Point and they go into the season with a varsity that consists of: Ashton James, Tiffani Batchelor, Brittnni Smith, Taylor Lewers, Jennifer Vincent, Libby Cannaday, Jade Covington, Morgan Bailey, and Madison Wilson.