By Jack Walker

Staff Writer

For the third consecutive year the Lady Bulldog volleyball team would have a new head coach as the 2009 season started with an August 4th practice. Debbie Murphy, a Richardson native who had moved off to Iowa to work and coach club volleyball, was hired to teach and coach the Lady Bulldogs.

A veteran team greeted coach Murphy when practice began as five seniors would log most of the playing time in the season.

Maddie and Paige Potter along with Briana Slawson, Stephanie Creekmore and Jessica Luangaphay were entering their final high school season. Ashton James and Tiffani Batchelor were moved up to the varsity late in 2008,and they had playoff experience to add to that veteran leadership.

In one of our first conversations with coach Murphy she outlined her plans for the 2009 season. " We are going to have to outwork everyone of our opponents because we don't have the big hitter." Murphy said " I expect us to keep the ball in play until the other team makes the mistake." Murphy put her team through some serious running drills in the early practice sessions to get them ready for that style of play.

After a pair of scrimmages, the Lady Bulldogs traveled to Sunnyvale to take on Quitman and the host- city in a tri-match to open the regular season. Howe split those two and had a very credible showing in the tough Tri-County Tournament in Pottsboro.

In its home opener, Howe got to employ some of those early teachings by coach Murphy in a 3-1 win over Texoma Christina School. TCS errors gifted the Lady Bulldogs 13 points in the first set as Howe got off to a great start. Howe fell behind 6-1 in the second before mounting a comeback to notch a 25-20 win. TCS avoided the sweep, getting good play at the net from Emily Kirby. The Lady Bulldogs were not to be denied on this night as they edged the visitors 25-23 in the deciding set.

Prosper was the next opponent on the tough schedule that the Lady Bulldogs would play and the defending district 9-3A champs proved to be too talented for this team.

The Lady Bulldogs rebounded with a 3-2 win over Savoy. Howe dropped two of the first three sets before getting the comeback win. Two kills by Paige Potter started a rally in the fourth set and after a Creekmore kill, the Lady Bulldogs took the lead. Another winner from Potter and a kill by James gave Howe the win that tied the match. In the final set it was a kill by Maddie Potter that broke open a 9-9 game and three straight Savoy errors extended the Howe lead. A block by James and a Creekmore kill gave Howe the set and match.

After getting a win against S&S, Nocona came to town, bringing with it a tall and talented hitter by the name of Zowie O'Neal (and I'm not making that up). Zowie was a handful at the net as her kills could be heard as well as seen. Nocona rolled to a 3-0 sweep and after a trip to Nocona for the Buckle Up for Lane Tournament, Howe would be ready for its district opener.

Bells provided the opposition as District 11-2A play got underway and the Lady Panthers have a rapidly improving program. Howe didn't get the start they wanted in league play as Bells pounded out a 3-1 win. Howe had a 13-point win in the second set as everything was clicking for the Lady Bulldogs. Two late kills by Ashton James and a Tiffani Batchelor service winner gave Howe its lone win in the match.

Melissa handed Howe its second home loss of the year before the Lady Bulldogs had a two-game win streak in matches with Whitewright and Tom Bean.

Howe had to battle through another losing streak, dropping four straight, before righting the ship with a win against Whitewright.

A win over Tom Bean on senior night and a season ending victory over Leonard made the overall season a bit more palpable

and coach Murphy is confident that the talent is there to be a contender next season.

Howe finishes the year at 17-25 with a 5-7 mark in league play.

Seniors Paige and Maddie Potter were picked to the all-district team and Paige was selected as setter of the year.

Senior Briana Slawson was selected for the second team along with juniors Ashton James and Tiffani Batchelor.