(July 30, 2008)--The Texas Girls Coaches Association pre-season volleyball poll is out. Here's the breakdown, from class 1A to 5A.
Conference 1A
1.Windthorst
2.Albany
3.Iola
4.Flatonia
5.Round Top Carmine
6.Plains
7.Lindsay
8.Cayuga
9. Kopperl
10. Wolfe City
Comments: Windthorst is powerful but the Trojanettes may face strong challenges in Albany, Iola and Flatonia. Lots of returning talent in class 1A which should make several early tournament interesting. It's difficult to assess the talent level early as some schools overload their schedule with large school opponents and do not carry an impressive record into district play.
Conference 2A
1.Bushland
2.Poth
3.Big Sandy Harmony
4.Jewett Leon
5.Henrietta
6.Pottsboro
7.Schulenburg
8.Grandview
9. Peaster
10. White Oak
Comments: I'm going with tradition as Bushland and Poth have been on top of the heap for the past coupled of season, Poth winning six titles. Harmony was hit by graduation but should be solid while Leon remains one of the marquee programs in the state. White Oak is loaded and Henrietta returns a sold nucleus. Grandview has good size while Peaster is a traditional power and Schulenburg is improved. Don't forget Wallis Brazos, Nocona or Lexington, all of whom rely on solid feeder programs.
Conference 3A
1. Wimberley
2. Bellville
3. China Spring
4. Yoakum
5. Monahans
6. Bridge City
7. Lucas Lovejoy
8. Gatesville
9. Borger
10. Columus
Comments: The Lady Texas moved to Region I, making that already strong region even tougher while opening another opportunity in Region IV. Lee Grisham has claimed titles using both daughters Dani and Jesi as setters then rolled out a new attack last year and won again. Bellville has their own tradition and should be good while the group that includes Columbus, China Spring and Gatesville is very talented. Yoakum is solid while Lovejoy is on their way up and Bridge City, Palacios and Borger have the ability to be very, very good.
Conference 4A
1. Hereford
2. Magnolia
3. New Braunfels Canyon
4. Dallas Highland Park
5. Red Oak
6. Waco Midway
7. Canyon Randall
8. Aledo
9. Corpus Christi Calallen
10. El Paso
Comments: Hereford, Randall or even Dumas. Well I'm picking Herford back on top but it is the roughest district in the state based on the state results over the past ten years. Magnolia should be excellent while Heather Sanders has done a great job at New Braunfels Canyon. Brenham looks ready to compete for the top spot with Highland Park boasting their deepest team since their playoff appearance in the final four a couple of years ago. Red Oak is always in the hunt while Midway should be tough despite serious graduation losses. Aledo and El Paso are both very talented.
Conference 5A
1. Amarillo
2. Austin Westlake
3. San Antonio Churchill
4. Plano West
5. Arlington
6. Kingwood
7. Houston Clear Creek
8. Lake Highlands
9. Round Rock
10. San Antonio O'Connor
Comments: The Golden Sandstorm and Chaps are coached by two of the finest high school coaches in the nation and with solid talent they belong on top until someone else beats them. Last year the teams combined for nearly 90 wins and just three losses, all to each other and until they get beat on the court anything else is just talk. Churchill returns every one while Plano West and Arlington both look good. Kingwood hopes to become the first Houston area team to win state since Cypress Creek did the trick in 1994. League City, Clear Creek, and Lake Richardson Highlands are both very talented. Westlake has several players from the Austin Juniors Mizuno 17 Junior Olympic Open division championship while Round Rock has two themselves and appears to be ready for a serious run with a senior laden squad. O'Connor also has all but one player back. Until someone else beats them it remains Westlake and Amarillo in the top two spots.
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