Friday, Sep. 12, 2008

Senior Leads Lady Mustangs in Several Ways

GHS Volleyball

By John English

Contributing Writer

Heading into the tournament season, Grapevine volleyball coach Diane Wilson said she needed someone to step up and take on a leadership role, and one player in particular answered the call.

Cathleen Childs has provided solid leadership for the Lady Mustangs through the last couple of weeks, and Wilson said she will rely on her senior to step up in district as well.

"It’s going to take more than one person, but she is definitely taking on the most visible role as a leader," Wilson said. "She’s not going to be on every single night with her hitting, and on the nights that she is not playing well is when we are going to need her to be a good vocal leader. Her role is going to be, every game, six rotations. We need her contributing something, whether it’s with her play or her ability to communicate."

Childs said she welcomes her role as one of the teams’ leaders.

"I want to be the sort of player that sets a good example for the younger players to follow," Childs said. "I try to have a good attitude on the court."

Childs said she feels that she is one of the leaders on the team, but said a certain teammate also helps guide the team and said they complement each other well.

"I think there are a couple of other seniors that are good leaders as well," Childs said. "I think our setter, Taylor Bennett, is a good leader, too. I think we help each other out, because she is more of the forceful leader, and I try to lead more by example."

Childs said she has a couple of goals for this season.

"I want for us to do well in district, have a good record and do better than we did last year," Childs said. "I would love to make the all-district team, but I don’t pay attention to my stats, so I don’t really know what good stats or bad stats are."

Childs said for Grapevine to make the playoffs this season, it is going to take a strong effort from every player.

"We’re going to have to work together," Childs said. "We have a lot of younger players, and if everyone steps up their game and is always playing their best, we have a definite shot of going to the playoffs."

Wilson said she is expecting big things from Childs in district and said her senior outside hitter is a team leader in more ways than one.

"She has really stepped into the leadership role that we were trying to fill," Wilson said. "She has taken on that responsibility, not only vocally, but also statistically."

Briefly

The Lady Mustangs won their home game against Mansfield Summit last Friday 2-1. They did not play Tuesday, and open district competition tonight, taking on Keller Central at 6 on the road.