While the 2009 volleyball season came to an early end for county teams, some players put together record years. Santa Fe senior Regina Trapp may have had the best two-match span of any player with 44 kills and 23 digs.
The volleyball season came to a premature end this weekend as no Galveston County team reached the state tournament for the first time since 2005.
Still, most teams and some players put together record years. We’ll take a look back at 2009, exploring the best in Galveston County volleyball.
Teams Set New Benchmarks
Eight squads bested their win total from a year ago. Ball, Clear Springs, Friendswood, La Marque, Hitchcock, Bay Area and O’Connell all posted improved records.
The group actually combined for 31 more wins this year. As a whole, Galveston County was 12 wins better than a season ago.
“It’s not a surprise,” Friendswood coach Jerry Linch said. “The districts get harder and harder every year.”
Friendswood and Santa Fe set school records for wins with 40 and 36 respectively. O’Connell posted its best district mark in school history.
Ball and La Marque more than doubled their win totals from a year ago.
“I think people recognize the importance,” Ball high coach Laura Castillo said. “We’ve gotten a lot of support.”
Tale Of Game 5s
Galveston County teams struggled in Game 5s this season. Some different results and some teams might still be playing.
Both Santa Fe and Friendswood ended their seasons in Game 5 losses. The Lady Indians fell to Foster in a back-and-forth, heartbreaking match in the regional quarterfinals. After alternating wins in Games 1 through 4, Santa Fe fell down 12-3 in the decisive game.
Friendswood actually took a 2-0 lead on Brenham in the regional semifinals. The Lady Mustangs, however, dropped the next two games. They actually led 7-4 in Game 5, but a controversial call led to a big momentum swing.
Neither Friendswood nor Santa Fe had played a Game 5 prior.
Clear Creek also experienced trials and tribulations in Game 5. They dropped three, including two at home, in district play.
Ball was the only county team to have any success in Game 5. The Lady Tors won three matches in the final game, including what could have been the game of the year against Hitchcock. They rallied from two games down to win, 15-13.
Anything can happen in Game 5, Santa Fe coach Anna Marie Milligan said.
“You never know and it’s hard to predict.”
Statistically Speaking: Best Stat Lines Of The Year
• Santa Fe senior Regina Trapp may have had the best two-match span of any player with 44 kills and 23 digs.
• Friendswood Freshman Jill Bergeson put together an impressive 14 kills, 28 dig showing against Santa Fe.
• At the Northwest Classic, without Trapp, Santa Fe junior Katie Marabella had 73 kills in four games.
• Friendswood setter Siobhan O’Neill had a streak of seven matches with 30 or more assists.
• Dickinson libero Shelbee Berringer posted 20 or more digs in six matches.
• Ball High sophomore Taylor Mitchell won Maxpreps.com and American Volleyball Coaches Association Texas High school player of the week with this stat line against Hitchcock: 10 kills, two assists, nine aces, 18 digs and two blocks.
• Texas City senior Karla Rodriguez had a game with 13 kills and 11 blocks.
• In October, Creek senior Madeline Gaffney hit a ridiculous 64 percent on her attacks in a two-match span.
• O’Connell’s Morgan Jones had 13 kills and 27 digs in the Lady Bucs’ playoff clincher. Jones became the first player to get an all-state nod — she received an honorable mention from TAPPS — in school history.
• Friendswood junior Jasmine Casey was 3-for-3 with all-tournament selections.
