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Monday, October 6, 2008
A Season of Dedication
Fort Worth, TX
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The Arlington Grace Prep volleyball team has dedicated itself to winning it all this season,
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“At a small school, something like this affects everybody.”
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Last season the Arlington Grace Prep volleyball team made an early exit from the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools Class 4A playoffs, losing in bi-district after finishing third in their district.
For the Lady Lions, that simply will not do. Like so many Grace Prep sports teams over the years, they are used to contending for a state championship.
Which is something they could again find themselves doing this season if their returning experience pays off.
The Lady Lions’ roster this season features five seniors and three juniors who saw plenty of time playing varsity in 2007. Coach Sandy Kelm is counting on this experience to not only lead them to their 16th consecutive playoff appearance (they’ve never missed since the school opened in 1993), but deep into the postseason--perhaps even finally reaching that elusive goal of a state championship.
“We definitely knew with our experience we’d be a lot stronger than last year,” said Kelm. “Some of the things we’ve accomplished this season have helped our confidence a lot also.”
After splitting time in the Christian Schools Athletic Federation and the Texas Christian Athletic League its first three years, Grace Prep joined TAPPS in 1996. Soon afterward, their overall sports program became one of the state’s elite.
The Lady Lions have been to the TAPPS State Tournament six times, reaching the finals four times, most recently in 2006. They’ve never won a title, but they figure it will happen some time--and why not this year is the thinking of several players.
“Every year we write down our goals, and the first thing on everybody’s list this year was to win state,” said senior middle blocker Janette Eubanks, a four-year member of the varsity and the only team member who has been to two state tournaments (2005, 2006).
“Knowing about our past and the program’s history definitely does help get us motivated.”
Losing in the first round of the playoffs last season was also a big motivation, said senior middle blocker Whitney Ellison.
“After that last game, we all fell apart,” said Ellison. “I felt like we let our seniors down.”
The Lady Lions have not only proven themselves to be one of the best TAPPS teams around this season--they are one of the best teams in both the private and public school arena. Grace Prep’s success includes winning the Southwest Tournament, defeating Kennedale in the championship match. They were also second in the Saginaw-Boswell Tournament and they won the silver bracket at the prestigious Arlington Tournament, defeating Decatur, Richardson Berkner, North Crowley and Abilene Cooper.
Senior outside hitter Jordan Oddo said the team is benefitting greatly from playing so many public schools. She recalled a similar schedule in 2006, when she was a sophomore on the team that played in the state finals.
“The tournaments we have been in have been really competitive, and the faster play of the public schools helps us pick up the pace,” said Oddo. “Last year, for example, we did not play in the Arlington Tournament, and I think it made a difference.
“Instead of just hitting a ball, and vice-versa, there are more long rallies, and that just means more playing time.”
Even though the Lady Lions got plenty of experience over the course of last season, they entered that 2007 campaign with very little experience as a team--and they play in a tough district. They can use all the experience they can gather when it comes to competing with fellow state toughies Midland Christian and Argyle Liberty.
Liberty defeated Grace Prep to win the 2006 state championship. They returned to the state finals last season.
“They’ll both be strong again,” said Kelm. “It will be a very tough challenge to try and win this district.”
Another major challenge for the Lady Lions will be on an emotional level. A classmate who was a close friend of most of the team members and a fellow athlete--Shane Allen--was killed in an automobile accident in early September.
The Lady Lions have dedicated their season to him.
“Last time I saw him was at our last home game,” said Eubanks a few days after the accident. “His face was painted and he was cheering for us.
“At a small school, something like this affects everybody.”
Of course, injuries can also take a toll on even the most talented team. Grace Prep has had to deal with a few this season, so the play of several younger players has been--and will continue to be--critical as the team chases its dream.
“The younger players are really smart. They really help with our depth,” said Ellison.
“It’s going to be so much fun to come back and watch them in the future,” said Eubanks. “Hopefully they’ll be defending our state title.” •
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