Texans wrap up scrimmages before season opener

The Wimberley Texans Volleyball wrapped up their first week of practices and scrimmages as they moved towards the start of the regular season Tuesday night against Buda Johnson before coming home to host the Tex-Fest Volleyball Tournament.

Though the Texans just completed the first week of practice, Head Volleyball Coach Stephenie Barthels is amazed by the team chemistry that has formed from the past two scrimmages.

“The team chemistry is amazing,” Barthels said. “Going into the Liberty Hill scrimmage and playing the bigger schools, I was a little nervous going into it. But we really went after them and took it to them. We felt really confident against them, and the girls had no weaknesses against the other teams and really stepped up their game. I felt the team was head on, zero fear in their eyes, and I was really proud of them. We came together and just gelled.”

“It felt like this team had played together for years even though we are very youthful,” Barthels continued. “The team chemistry is off the wall. I feel like this team has played for years and years when we have only played together for two days. It’s been awesome.”

Heading into the season, one the big things the team talked about was filling the shoes of a highly touted senior class.

However, Barthels states that not only is the team ready for those high expectations, they have fully embraced them.

“That was one of the things we talked about,” Barthels said. “You had Paige Crawford, Cameren Davis, Layla Dubuisson, and the other six seniors on the team that left. It was one of the talks we had that this team had big shoes to fill. Our slogan this year is ‘Starve the Distractions and Feed the Focus.’ ...It’s funny because every year we have those doubters saying ‘You are not going to be good’ then everyone comes out really impressed… It’s

The Texans scrimmage against Marble Falls in Wimberley, Wimberley is set to play Marble Falls in the Tex-Fest Tournament this Friday.

amazing what these girls want to give, because you tell these girls amazing things about themselves and they will feel it. I tell them how proud I am of them, and how we are going to do these amazing things, and they go out there and do it. You give them, and they give back… Even though we lost that decorated class, the youngest players are saying ‘We want that. We want to go back. We loved the experiences and the leadership they have, and we want to do what they did.” They are filling up their shoes.”

One big difference Barthels has noticed is the different styles of coaching between the 2021 team and the 2022 team.

“Last year, I got to sit back a little bit more whereas this year I’m a little hands on more than I was,” Barthels said. “I get asked a lot more questions when the kids come out, which is a lot more than I got last year. I would get a high five and the players would tell me what they saw whereas this year I get more questions of ‘What do I do here? Where do I need to be?’ ...It feels a lot more like when I started my career, so it’s a different kind of interaction than it was last year.”

Barthels also stated that several Texan volleyball players have upped their game not only this season but in the offseason as well.

“A standout is Laney Hennessee for sure,” Barthels said. “She has been focusing on her volleyball game for a long time, Raeghan Masur, who has been putting in a lot of effort during the offseason. Both have really stepped up their game along with Jesse Weeks …(Carson Peoples) is only a freshman and a little rusty, but as the season goes on and we enter district play she will be really amazing. I’m going to be expecting a lot from her. With another freshman in Mariah McCoy who has been doing amazing and is just an all-around great athlete who will be doing great things. Kensley Brown, is currently recovering from shoulder surgery and not quite 100%, but she is swinging really well. Then you have Maddie Harris and Emily Thames who are both amazing as well.”

Wimberley kicks off the 2022 season on the road against Buda Johnson Tuesday night before hosting the Tex-Fest Volleyball Tournament.

This year’s tournament is without a doubt one of the biggest tournaments Wimberley High School has ever hosted with 38 teams set to play across six gymnasiums in Wimberley.

The Texans are set to play in Pool 2 alongside Marble Falls, Marion, and Lehman with start times at 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 2:15 p.m. at Texan Gym on Friday.

Head Volleyball Coach Stephanie Barthels addresses the team following their scrimmage against Marble Falls.