Here’s what you probably already knew about Carroll volleyball, a program both Flower Mound and Marcus will have to contend with this season:
This is a solid program, with a quality coach in Wyvonne Walling and a core of consistent players led by senior setter Kristen Duckworth, senior middle blocker Sally Johnsen, senior outside hitter Rachel Zarazan and senior outside hitter Sloane Sunstrum.
Here’s a hidden fact:
This program has won only one 5A playoff game since the school moved up to the University Interscholastic League’s highest classification in 2002.
That’s puzzling for a program that definitely has the physical ability to compete with some of Region I’s best programs, including Arlington Martin, Arlington, Plano West and Flower Mound Marcus. And remember, 10 years ago, this program played for the Class 4A state championship.
But until it starts beating some of these teams, some who follow the team will have nagging questions. Is this group good enough against those powers when it’s on the line?
There’s no free admittance into the Region I hierarchy. You don’t talk your way into it. You win your way into it.
"This is a strong, deep and committed group," Walling said. "The mental attitude must match our physical ability, because we have a really good team."
The players came to their first practice on Aug. 4 wearing the T-shirts, "State in 08." Actually, they started wearing them in 2005, when they were freshmen.
Consider that Walling has nine seniors and 11 of her 15 players on the roster returning from the 2007 squad that went 32-6. Consider that she toughened her non-district schedule by playing Plano West, Arlington and Arlington Martin. Consider that the Lady Dragons are in a far tougher district this year (6-5A) than they were for the last two years (5-5A).
Battling and beating Marcus, Coppell and Hebron is a little different than Richland, Haltom and Keller Central.
"It’s one of those things where there is some motivation," Duckworth said. "We want to show people that we can play. But the key for us is to concentrate on what we do on our side of the net."
The pressure or demands may not have been as high had the Lady Dragons defeated Hebron in the bi-district round last year. They had a 2-0 lead before squandering it and losing the last three.
Carroll started its season on Tuesday and, as expected, it took care of Boswell and Parish Episcopal. Now, the Lady Dragons move into the Grapevine tournament this weekend and should contend for that tournament title.
But you can be assured that they will know more about themselves when they play Arlington Tuesday, when they go to the Allen tournament next weekend, when they face Allen on Sept. 9 and when they face Plano West on Sept. 16.
Yes, the record may take a bit of a beating, but pick off a couple of those matches and the perspective changes. Unfortunately, that’s just the way it works in this business.
So it’s sitting right there for the Lady Dragons. Can they get to the Region I tournament in Abilene?
Only they can answer that.
"We respect everyone," Sunstrum said. "But we fear no one."