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Volleyball

Ferris trio leads All-Big 5 volleyball

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Eastern Ellis County volleyball had plenty of impressive seasons among the Big 5 teams, none more than Class 4A Ferris. Under HC Kyla Menefee, the Yellowjackets enjoyed a 24-10 season, which included a playoff win over North Dallas. That was an increase of 18 wins over the 2020 team.

Credit Menefee’s coaching, the ball distribution of 5’2, senior setter, Zyara Harrison, and a wall at the net. Leading the way was 5’11 outside hitter, Callie Ralston. The senior had a standout season in kills, hitting percentage, and a hot service game.

Lady Lions rise from cellar to finish 5th

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Ennis had a marked turnaround season this fall, though 9-16 may not turn many heads. A last place finish a year ago was topped by taking fifth among seven teams in District 14-5A. They won two of their last three matches to solidify their place behind Midlothian (37-8), Red Oak (22-21), Joshua (23- 18) and Cleburne (11-22).

Fourth year HC Kelly Henderson had three senior players chosen by district coaches, led by lone First Teamer, Ja’Mya Williams. The 5’9 Middle Hitter/ Blocker was known for her 26” vertical leap, which elevated to her to a number of gigantic kills.

Zabojnik, Cortez pace Palmer All-District picks

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Fourth-year HC Melanie Barnes led a young Palmer varsity through a tough 11-19 season. It did not lack for progress and promise, especially considering the core that will return next season.

The Lady Bulldogs were seventh in a league but had its share of highachievers. A 5-2 start leveled off at 7-7 before a challenging finish. At the end, however, the Black & Gold stunned second place and stateranked Eustace, 3-1, just three weeks after getting swept on the road.

Jackets netters place 5 on All-District team

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Ferris had the most success of all Big 5 volleyball teams, producing 24 wins and a Bi-District victory to boot. Veteran HC Kyla Menefee saw her Yellowjackets perform at a steep grade higher than the 6-11 record they had in 2020.

The feisty Menefee credited the dedication and improvement in the individual performance of players, which led the Black and Orange to winning 18 matches without a single lost set.

In the playoffs they swept North Dallas, 3-0, 25-12, 25-9 and 25-11. However, they ran into a buzz-saw in Celina (42-2) in the Area Round, losing in three sets.

Italy bumped, set, spiked to 16-9 season

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Coming off a 7-15 record in 2020, Italy volleyball enjoyed a turnaround season in which the Lady Gladiators posted a 16-9 mark, their first above .500 effort since 2015. Under veteran HC Shauna Steinmetz, they achieved a 9-5 record in District 15-2A and a playoff berth.

Bacak, Jacks lead Avalon All-District picks

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Another productive volleyball season at Avalon saw the Eagles finish second in District 15-2A to state finalist, Blum (36-13), and qualified for the playoffs.

The Eagles had two winning streaks of four straight wins and another of five-in-a-row before finishing 14-8 in the regular-season, 11-3 in league action. In the process, HC Tony Hernandez was named Coach of the Year. The Lady Eagles, who were 12-7 a year ago, again earning second place. But in both years, they were ousted in the first round by Hubbard. This time it was 3-0, with the Jaguars winning, 25-23, 25-16 and 25-14.

Lady Lions comeback falls short, 35-33

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A strong rally in the final minutes of a home game on Tuesday came up just short of Fort Worth Eastern Hills, 35-33, to drop the Ennis Lady Lions to 1-3 on the season.

Turnovers and a miserable night at the foul line cost the hosts. HC David Kilpatrick credited his team’s effort to the final buzzer, especially their man-to-man defense as well as full-court pressure. The hustle created a number of scoring opportunities.

After serving on the frontlines, Steinmetz steps back

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Tough decisions are seldom made on the spot. Italy veteran volleyball HC Shauna Steinmetz has come to, like Brooks & Dunn sang in Red Dirt Road, “turning the corner in my soul,”

What a season it has been, turning the Lady Gladiators from a 7-15 in 2020 to a 16-9 mark and 9-5 in District 15-2A. Reflective and quite positive about her tenure at Italy, she shared her heart in an interview with The Ennis News.

Feisty Wolfe City tops Italy netters

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Italy volleyball enjoyed a starryeyed 15-4 start only to end their season prematurely with a 3-0 upset defeat at the hands of a feisty Wolfe City team at Kaufman on Tuesday. The Lady Gladiators’ (16-9) magic lost its pixie dust in the last two weeks and came up short in five-of-their-last-six matches.

Wolfe City (15-16) played remarkably well, taking an emotional Game One, 27-25, even with Italy committing few mistakes. The Wolves rode that momentum into a 25-18 win in Game Two, surging past a Glads team that appeared out-of-sync. They completed a sweep in a 25-17 Game Three.

Ferris sweeps North Dallas, 3-0

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Ferris (24-9) was the lone Big 5 Bi-District volleyball winner on Tuesday. They flattened North Dallas, 3-0, at Forester Fieldhouse in Mesquite.

Led by setter Zyara Harrison and outside hitter Callie Ralston, a pair of dominating seniors, the Yellow Jackets, who had won 3-of-theirlast-four matches, breezed past the Lady Bulldogs, who were second in District 12- 4A. Harrison steered the Stingers to big wins of 25-12, 25-9 and 25-11 to make short work of North Dallas.