What a difference a year makes for Dawson girls

August 18, 2009

   

PEARLAND — It came down to a final match last season when the Dawson Lady Eagles faced the Texas City Lady Stingarees in a battle for the fourth and final playoff spot in District 24-4A. Despite being in their first year of varsity competition -- head coach Lori McLaughlin saw her girls take the season down to the very end before falling to Texas City to barely miss the post-season.

But a year later -- the No. 5 area-ranked Lady Eagles know they have improved enough to be a legitimate playoff contender despite state-power Friendswood and area power Santa Fe being in the same league.

Dawson opened up the 2009 volleyball season with an impressive win over area-ranked Kingwood Park 3-1.

The Lady Eagles are showing a well-balanced attack as Camille Bender, Camryn Kazierski, Katie Haynie and Katey Kyle had six kills each.

Grace Underwood had five block leaders and Bender had four blocks.

Haynie added 19 assists and Underwood had 15.

"This was a great way to start the season and each player played an integral role in this team win," McLaughlin said. "That's what makes this team so different from a year ago."

Dawson won the first two games 25-14, 25-15 in dominating fashion, but Kingwood Park rallied in the third game 25-22 before the Lady Eagles put the match away 25-19.

The Lady Eagles dropped their first home game to one of the top 5A team in Fort Bend Dulles in their second game before competing at the Katy Tournament.

"One of the things we are doing this year is allowing our girls to compete against some of the top 5A teams in the area," McLaughlin said. "Last year we really couldn't have done that, but the girls are getting a taste of what it means to play against some of the top teams and players in our region and they are seeing they can compete against them."

Dawson is currently 5-4 overall, but all of their losses have come against 5A teams.

"We are using the tournaments and non-district schedule to gain valuable experience and to help us get ready for district play," McLaughlin said. "The real season begin at district when we determine our own destiny in making the playoffs which is a legitimate goal for us to realize this season."

What makes Dawson so impressive early is that there are so many players who are able to step up and make a contribution.

"I get asked all the time which of the girls is my best player and I really can't answer that," McLaughlin said. "Each one makes up the total sum of what a complete team should be and that is exactly what we have. The girls feed their energy off one another and which makes this team so different from a year ago."

With only two seniors - Dawson has the nucleus to move up as one of the top 4A teams in the Houston area and McLaughlin is excited about the overall development and progress after one year of varsity experience.

At the present time - McLaughlin is using her players at different positions to find the right combinations that will make the Lady Eagles a more balanced and aggressive team on offense and defense.

"The girls are getting more mature and they always want to do whatever it takes to be successful," McLaughlin said. "They are getting more experience, smarter, and more well-rounded to make a program more successful."

McLaughlin said that one of the greatest needs for the team so early this season is to make sure they finish each match.

"We are always looking for more aggressiveness - more impact as a team," McLaughlin said. "The girls are doing a great job this year as compared to this year."

One of the works in progress is seeing the Lady Eagles develop a killer instinct when taking out an opponent. That doesn't mean being disrespectful to their opponent, but putting an end to each game once a lead has been established.

Success breeds success and McLaughlin ultimately hopes to see her girls to not only be successful in a Dawson uniform, but also to have the opportunity to play at the collegiate level.

Dawson is already realizing early season success, but McLaughlin knows that her girls are only beginning to see their full potential.

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