By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
The challenge of a new volleyball season began at 12:01 a.m. Thursday for the Lopez Lady Lobos.
For the third straight year the Lady Lobos held a “Midnight Mayhem” practice session to kick off their new season’s workouts. It consisted of some demanding conditioning drills lasting almost two hours on the Lobos’ artificial turf football/soccer field under the stars.
The event attracted close to 40 volleyball players.
Thursday marked the first day for volleyball practice around the state under UIL rules. Some teams, such as the Lady Lobos, started as soon as possible on Thursday after the clock struck midnight.
“ This is a big step toward all of us getting together and finding a way to bond with each other so we can find out a little bit of what the upcoming season is going to be like,” said Brenda Savariego, a junior defensive specialist and team captain. “This type of workout is awesome, especially for me, because I like to work out.
“ We all feel good to be out here,” she added. “We’re ready for the season.”
Daya Venegas is beginning her first full season as Lopez’s head coach. Jacquelynn Touchet-Rey, who started the season as the head coach in 2018, is now the assistant.
The Lady Lobos have made the Class 5A playoffs as the District 32-5A fourth-place team the past two seasons. It’s meant an early exit from the postseason in bi-district against the District 31-5A champion. The goal this year is to finish better in district and make it to at least the second round of the playoffs.
Venegas said eight returnees are back.
“ I was expecting about (only) 20 girls tonight, but we got about 40 to come out,” Venegas said. “We have a lot of incoming freshmen here along with the varsity and junior varsity girls.
“ I believe we have a lot of potential,” the coach added. “We’re not the type of school with girls who have the money to go out and play club ball, so we try to do this to motivate them right before the season starts. Coach Touchet started this (Midnight Mayhem) three years ago. The girls like it, they work hard for it, so we’ve continued it. More girls have shown up each time.”
Venegas said it’s a young team this season.
“ We have only three seniors, three juniors and the rest are sophomores with one incoming freshman playing varsity,” the coach said. “We have some other ones who will be trying out for the team.
We have a lot of work to do,” Venegas added. “I told the girls fourth place in district is just not good enough (anymore). Our goal is to keep moving up until we make it to district champs one day.”
The Lady Lobos’ seniors are Aylin Aguilar, Kathie Barrientes and Olga Arozena.
The captains are Savariego and Katherine Rodriguez, a junior setter.
“ This is an awesome way to start the season,” Rodriguez said of the “Midnight Mayhem” event. “We’ve been busting out tails in the weight room all summer long, so this is one step closer to preparing ourselves for the season. This workout is absolutely a motivation. I’m so excited because I know we have a great group of girls this season.
“ We’ve been working so hard, and now I feel we’re one step closer to becoming a better team,” Rodriguez added. “With a workout like this one, we all come together as a team and it lets us know we’re going to have a good season.
“ With this group of girls, we’re all close together. We talk to each other and we have a good relationship on and off the court. We’re great friends with each other, and that’s something that sets us apart. More than anything, I’d like to thank the coaches and everyone who came out to support us as we start the season.”
The Lady Lobos have an alumni match scheduled at 6 p.m. today. After that, they’ll play host to Hanna for a scrimmage at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.