Article by Greg Jaklewicz
Photos Courtesy of WylieSports.com
Bulldogs off to a Strong Start
Amid football, fall festivities and everything else going on, did you know that the Wylie High volleyball team is having a terrific season?
The Bulldogs are not state ranked like the Wylie tennis team but they have posted a 25-7 record and have opened District 2-5A play with a pair of 3-0 decisions, over Abilene Cooper and Wichita Falls Legacy.
“Two good wins,” coach Shay Cox said.
Wylie is fielding a young team with only one senior.
The Bulldogs were open Tuesday, giving the team a chance to rest and “refine some different skills that we’re working on,” she said.
WHS has two challenging matches coming up, testing old rival Abilene High at their place Friday before returning to campus Tuesday to take on new rival Wichita Falls Memorial.
The schools split in district play last fall, each winning on the road. In a playoff, Wylie downed Memorial to claim the district title.
Wylie won 3-2 at Wichita Falls, overcoming a 2-0 deficit. Memorial returned the favor in Abilene, spoiling senior night.
“I don't know what it was but they just kicked our tails,” Cox said.
Is that still on the team’s collective mind?
“They remember it,” she said.
Junior Haddie Mock said that how the three games played out in 2024 has started a rivalry.
“It’s more fun playing them than everyone else,” she said. “They’re really good, and we’re rivals now.”
Both schools are unbeaten in district play, setting up the showdown next week … should Wylie take care of AHS.
Impressive So Far
Wylie owns some big wins. Before winning their past three outings by 3-0 scores, the Bulldogs downed Class 3A No. 2 Bushland 3-2. Before that, Wylie powered by Class 4A No. 13 Stephenville 3-0.
Losses have come to good opponents, such as Class 5A No. 15 Birdville (2-1) and Class 4A No. 11 Lubbock-Cooper Liberty (2-0).
“We’ve gone up against some great competition and we’ve had to find our way through some struggles,” Cox said. “It’s always good to learn from that experience.”
Wylie hasn’t struggled much but areas such as poor serve-receive or its attackers having an off night make a difference. Often, there is not much separating a winner and a loser in volleyball.
“Most of the time in volleyball, it’s making mistakes and not recovering from them fast enough. A good team across the net gets on a roll against you and you’re chasing your tail.”
Wylie’s only dip in the season was a 2-1 loss to Class 3A Clyde, which is ranked No. 15, and a 3-0 whitewashing by Midland High. Wylie had blanked Clyde 2-0 earlier.
The Bulldogs, however, have responded with a six-game winning streak.
Other than those few bumps, it has been smooth cruising for the Bulldogs.
“Just the drive these kids have, the focus and the goals, it’s kind of where I thought we’d be,” Cox said of the season to date. “When they knuckle down and they get after it and they’re focused, they are tough to beat.”
Another plus for Wylie is staying healthy. Volleyball takes its toll on the players, who came into the school season after playing all summer.
“And I don’t think we’re tired of each other yet,” Cox said, smiling. “There is a good balance out there with the girls, and you want that.”
Wylie has its eyes set on the postseason but Cox said it’s important to: “keep our goals in mind and at the front of everything helps in the fall when there are so many distractions.”
Better Defense
That’s from the coach. What does the 6-foot-2 junior Mock have to say?
“So far, so good,” said Mock, who is in her second varsity year.
She said her team is ahead of where they were last year.
“Last year, we had a real slump and lost, like, six games in a row. We haven’t had that this year,” she said. Wylie has lost two straight twice.
Mock attributed the success in part to the players being closer in age. They spend more time together, in the classroom or being on the same club team.
“We already were pretty close as a team,” she said. “It’s nice that everyone wants to be here. Sometimes that’s not how it is on a team.
“I think volleyball is everybody’s first sport. Everyone has the same goals.”
On the court, Wylie is playing better defense, she said. Mock threw praise to the back row for doing its job with serve-receive and passing the ball to teammates, like Mock, at the net.
“Our back row is way better,” she said.
Personally, Mock said her blocking at the net has improved. With her height, she can be hard to hit around or through.
“My swinging. I have gotten faster. And my passing. I don’t do that a whole lot, but it has gotten a lot better than last year.”
That also speaks for a team that also has gotten a lot better than this time a year ago.