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Friday and Saturday at the UIL Class 3A State Championships in San Marcos. The Lady Loboes, after all, are pretty good at the history stuff.
Their appearance at the state tournament this weekend is the 14th in program history, making them one of very few to have qualified in double-figure numbers.
When Monahans (35-10) plays White Oak (41-1) at 1 p.m. Friday in Texas State’s Strahan Coliseum, it will be the team’s fifth appearance in six seasons — something that can be matched by just two of the other 19 teams qualified this weekend in any classification.
“This is a whole new group of kids that are going to get a taste of it and want to go back,” Monahans head coach Patty Dominguez said. “That’s really neat.”
Even though the Lady Loboes have qualified every year but last year since 2002, senior middle blocker Bailey Marcum is the only player with actual on-court experience from the state tournament.
A handful of other players made the trip in 2005 when Monahans lost in the final, such as setter Kaitlin Mitchell, outside hitter Jordan Latham, middle blocker Heather Schulz and defensive specialist Kristi Wilson.
Sophomores then who sat back and watched the entire experience as the Lady Loboes finished
second, they now are seniors who have grown into becoming the program’s driving force.
“It’s a great feeling,” Schulz said. “Just to know that you did and you helped the team out, that you didn’t just sit around and watch someone else. The fact you were a part of it just makes you feel that much better about it.”
Some of the program’s future already is its present, as well, such as sophomores Kati Holly, Kristi Holly and Shelbi Cornelius.
They contribute in supporting roles such as blocking and now will get their chance to see what the best in the state are all about.
Kati Holly remembers watching Monahans win the state title in 2004.
“It was a pretty big deal and I was excited,” Holly said. “I’m a little nervous now, but it probably won’t hit me until I walk in there.”
The truth about the situation is that the Lady Loboes have been preparing for this weekend each step of the way.
Early matches against Class 5A and 4A opponents such as Lubbock Coronado, Randall, San Angelo Central, Midland Lee, Odessa High and Midland High were scheduled to help the Lady Loboes thrive in November.
It showed Saturday when Monahans rallied from two games down to beat Canyon in the Region I-3A final, earning the return trip to San Marcos.
“You have to perform when you get (to state) and you have to have something inside,” Dominguez said. “I think after Saturday’s (match), we proved that we definitely have that.”
It sets up much like 2004 when Monahans rallied to beat Canyon in five games in the regional quarterfinals and eventually qualified for state with 10 losses, just like this year’s team.
The final result that year?
Monahans won the state title.
RECENT RUNS OF SUCCESS
>> Windthorst: Class 1A team is making 18th straight appearance at the state tournament.
>> Poth: Making fifth straight appearance in Class 2A tourney.
>> Monahans: Making fifth appearance in last six years in 3A.
>> Austin Westlake: Fourth appearance in six years in 5A.
UIL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE
At Texas State University, San Marcos
Thursday’s Matches
CLASS 2A
Semifinals
Centerville (47-0) vs. Poth (36-8), 1 p.m.
Big Sandy Harmony (35-3) vs. Bushland (29-7), 3 p.m.
CLASS 4A
Semifinals
Waco Midway (45-1) vs. Canyon Randall (33-8), 5 p.m.
Friendswood (37-6) vs. New Braunfels Canyon (36-7), 7 p.m.
———
Friday’s Matches
CLASS 1A
Semifinals
Windthorst (36-2) vs. Flatonia (30-9), 9 a.m.
Iola (35-3) vs. Kopperl (38-5), 11 a.m.
CLASS 3A
Semifinals
White Oak (41-1) vs. Monahans (35-10), 1 p.m.
Columbus (41-3) vs. Wimberley (36-7), 3 p.m.
CLASS 5A
Semifinals
Austin Westlake (41-1) vs. Plano West (34-8), 5 p.m.
Amarillo High (44-1) vs. Houston Cypress-Fairbanks (37-2), 7 p.m.
———
Saturday’s Matches
CLASS 1A
Final
Semifinal winners, 9 a.m.
CLASS 2A
Final
Semifinal winners, 11 a.m.
CLASS 3A
Final
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
CLASS 4A
Final
Semifinal winners, 3 p.m.
CLASS 5A
Final
Semifinal winners, 5 p.m.