Hughes Springs Lady Mustang volleyball team offers tough competition

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By Rick Colegrove

Lady Mustang volleyball returns to the court this year with a different look to the squad that was cochamps of their district last year. Gone are Kayla Watkins, Ashlin Roach and Katharina Dietrich, who returned to Germany, and a total of eight seniors. Returning seniors include Destiny Gonzales, Breanne Gunn, Chloe Hicks and Courtney Higgins. With a few new faces, 2014 Lady Mustang volleyball will be competitive and tough to deal with. Coach Amy Blackwell sat down with me and gave me her take on what to expect this year, along with some of the things that might surprise Mustang Nation. I asked Coach Blackwell what was the biggest thing that will be missed from last year to this year? She said “Awesome middles with Breanne and Kat, always blocking, with that intimidation factor, not having two 6-footers will hurt.”
 Bailey Tembrook looks to fill that void and once again give the Lady Mustangs a formidable middle, making it difficult for opposing teams to get muchpast the duo of Gunn and Tembrook. Blackwell will have to groom new setters this year, due to the departure of Kayla Watkins, who played varsity volleyball for four years, and could be counted on to place the ball exactly where it needed to be. Another stand out was Ashlin  Roach who Blackwell called an awesome athlete. Roach could play all the positions and also led the district in aces. 
Coach Blackwell thinks that this year will be a competitive year because she has some awesome leaders and generally a good group of kids to work with. It is clear that senior Breanne Gunn is going to be a monster for opposing teams. She was smashing spikes over the net with ease, and is sure to spark fear throughout the year. With the velocity her spikes bring, opposing teams would be wise to stock up on ice packs and Tylenol. All in all, 2014 proves to be another good year for Lady Mustang volleyball, with a good mix of veterans and newcomers, it's one that is sure to fill the stands and deserve our support.
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