The 10-14 Maiden volleyball team faces San Angelo Lake View Sept. 18 coming off a five-game match loss against Denver City on Sept. 14.
“Our thing is we’re young,” Coach Jackie Horton said. “We’ve lost games because we were doing it to ourselves.”
According to Horton, team play on the court has been an obstacle.
“We’ve got to pass the ball to get where we need to be,” Horton said. “If we take care of that…we’ll have more success.”
The success factor has been hampered by injury all preseason with as many as five players out with various ailments. At one point senior Giselle Loya and freshman Kenzie Perryman and junior Maggie Savage all had ankle injuries the same week.
Currently freshman Hope Hicks is dealing with myocardial syncope, a condition where not enough oxygen reaches the brain causing fainting. She must drink extra water and sports drinks as well as take salt tablets to combat the effects.
“I love sports and I could never quit,” Hicks said. “I’ll always play sports. Sometimes I black out, but I’ve done that my whole life.”
Despite health and poor passing problems, Horton does not feel the win/loss record matters as much as the team’s growth through the preseason.
“The players have made growth in areas people don’t recognize,” Horton said.