Lady Bulldogs set '08 roster

Fhoto by Lester Murray GOT IT! — Blair Ware (in red) is among the players named to the Kilgore High School freshmen volleyball squad, after the Lady Bulldogs wrapped up tryouts this week. Twenty-two freshmen tried out for that age group's team, and 24 upper classmen tried out for spots on varsity and junior varsity, head coach Lacy Thompson said. The Lady 'Dogs will take part in a preseason play day in Henderson on Friday, then open the 2008 regular season in Longview on Tuesday. In her second season as head coach, Kilgore High School volleyball coach Lacy Thompson can tell interest is up in volleyball.

Thompson had some tough decisions this week as the Lady Bulldogs went through tryouts.

"We had 22 girls try out for the freshman team, and 24 upper classmen try out for spots on the (junior varsity) and varsity teams," said Thompson, herself a former KHS volleyball standout. "We kept 14 freshmen, and they're an awesome group. We're all excited."

Ten girls were named to the varsity team: Alex Phillips, Alyssa Phillips, Raven Wiley, Sarah Morris, China Hughes, Hailey Wright, Lesta Eaton, Kelsey Jackson, Kathryn McIntyre and Andrea Ashley. Players named to the JV squad are Briana Westbrook, Brianna Sanders, Kandace Shackelford, Tessa Walton, Ashley Sanders, Kaleigh Benoit, Jessica Shepherd, Keyonna Levingston, Kearia Rayson, Skye Wyatt, and Jalissa Baggett.

The freshmen team is Meagan Whisenhunt, Hunter Dean, Mary Mays, Cheyenne Andrews, Morgan Brown, Morgan Montgomery, Nikeyia Shackelford, LaQuasha Sheffield, Jessica Colbert, Angela Gee, Alyssa Conner, Heather Hanks, Blair Ware and Dana Boyd.

Two girls thus far have been named team managers: Breeze Henson and Courtney Clinton.

All three KHS volleyball teams will take part in the preseason Henderson play day at Henderson High School tomorrow. The varsity will play at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. JV will play at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m., and freshmen will play at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The Lady 'Dogs officially open the season at 5 p.m. on Tuesday at Longview High School in a tri-match against Longview and North Lamar.

This season (and the 2009 season), under new University Interscholastic League realignment, the Lady Bulldogs will play in a different district setup than in previous years. Gone are the Longview-area schools like Pine Tree and Hallsville. Kilgore will play in District 14-4A, with Henderson, Jacksonville, Whitehouse, Nacogdoches and Lindale providing the opposition.

Thompson is once again assisted by Cassie Newell and by Amanda Farmer, formerly Amanda Walzel. Newell, the school's head softball coach, has been busy lately practicing with the East Texas Saberkats, a women's football league. Farmer, who married over the summer, is also the KHS girls head soccer coach.