Memorial High School - Reata Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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W. 'li i 1 Null! 1 'har Tongue out in deep concentration, Senior Two year letterman Iunior Ellen Ewing Tracy Richardson sets the ball perfectly. bumpsthe ball in theairduringthe Elsikgame. Senior Iennifer Glasford watches anxiously. This district game drew the largest crowd ever. Photo by lim Tomforde. Photo by lim Tomforde. Varsity Volleyball O 99

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Super spikers SGCUYG playoff berth, spoil season's Number one volleyball teams re- quired dedication of each team member. Determination, the will to win, were the two main reasons we kept on going, never gave out or stop- ped giving our all, stated Senior Mimi Moralas. This year's Varsity members all had one thing in commong they wanted to win District, I can always remember Tracy Cernan or Mandy Williams talking how they wanted to win District, said Coach Ann Butler. The Varsity volleyball team con- sisted of nine seniors, and one junior, four letterwomen, and all experienc- ed players. We were a large Varsity team which in a way helped us more, when one person was in a slump another could quickly come off the bench and replace her, said Senior Tracy Cernan. However, some girls felt different- ly about the matter. I didn't like hav- ing such a large team, maybe because I was the one always sitting on the bench, said Senior Lindsey Whitaker. Sometimes you just feel you are there to practice with the starting six girls or relieve an injured player, Lindsey continued. 98 O Varsity Volleyball end I know a few of the girls were upset about sitting on the bench, but I was there to win, said Mrs. Butler. All 10 of the girls were familiar with each other's techniques. Our whole team had been together since our freshman year, excluding Ellen Ewing and Tracy Richardson, so we knew each other well and were able to cope with each individuals' idiosyncrasysf' commented Mimi. This closeness enabled our team to work better, the closer the team, the better we played, said Tracy. But the girls did not 'appear' to be a particularly outstanding team. We were not very tall, kinda short really, but we were a quick hustling team, Tracy continued. Up until the final game of the District playoffs, the Mustangs looked as they were going straight to the top. We had worked long hard hours the whole season and overcame the odds by winning consistently. We just became overconfident for the last playoff game, against Northbrook, and were not fired up enough, said Mimi. I felt let down after the game. After working the entire season, it all came down to one single game and we lost, she continued. I don't like the method of using playoff games to determine district. We had to play two teams even though we had the best overall record, said Tracy. The last game may not have been what the girls had hoped for but the overall season was successful. The Varsity went to three tournaments, placing in every one. In the La Porte tournament we came in first, and at the Northshore and Spring Branch tournaments we placed third, said second year letterwoman Mandy Williams. The tournaments were the most fun games we played in. We were allowed to skip school and we weren't so pressured to win, com- mented Lindsey. Overall this is the best season I continued on page 100 The varsity volleyball team included, Bottom row: Ioan Isensee, Karen Rathgeber, jennifer Glasford, Tracy Richardson. Second row: Tracy Cernan, Ellen Ewing, Mimi Morales. Third row: Amy Bean and Mandy Williams. Top row: Lindsay Whitaker. Photo by lim Tomforde. Anticipation is an important part of making a good return. Senior volleyball player Tracy Cernan displays this technique with a suc- cessful return. Photo by jim Tomforde.

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Veteran Varsity produces four All-District team members have ever had as a coach, at Memorial, pertaining to our win loss record, said Mrs. Butler. The girls played volleyball for various reasons: the thrill of competi- tion, friends and the joy of playing. Volleyball, as any team sport is a good experience. It teaches good sportsmanship, helps you meet peo- ple and it's just fun, said Lindsey. This was my sixth year to play volleyball, and my Varsity year was my best. You felt really special, and everybody looks up to you, said Lindsey. One game in particular I remember everybody supported each other, the Alief-Elsik game. The whole team was nervous and Ellen and Karen just provided confidence, said Mimi. I will always remember the first District game against Northbrook. The whole team was together and wanted to win, said Mandy. Besides being a close team, the fans provided record breaking support to the girls. Our mothers gave each girl a special gift before each game, it kin- da' made every player feel special, said Tracy. Besides the mothers, the students contributed an overwhelming amount of support. During the first playoff game against Northbrook, the H10 O Varsity Volleyball students cheered and screamed for the girls, said Mrs. Butler. Outstanding players included Mimi Moralas, first team All-District, high point server with 201 points and voted most valuable player by her teammates, Tracy Richardson, first team All-District and Mandy Williams and Ellen Ewing second team All-District. I don't think of a few outstanding players, I think of us as one big fami- ly, I think of us before each game kneeling down silently and a prayer being said to God, concluded Lindsey. The girls set a standard, one to be upheld by those waiting to follow in their stead. Their level of play was admired by the IV and Freshmen. That's our goal, to play Varsity ball. It's a lot more aggressive and a lot more fun. It's a much higher level of competition, said Iunior Betty Epps. Since this year's team was so good, we have a lot to live up to. UU by Amy Bean First team All-District member, Mimi Morales, pounds the ball into the opponents face. Senior Tracy Cernan crouches down to pick up a block. Photo by lim Tomforde. After a difficult match against Alief-Elsik, junior Ellen Ewing embraces fellow volleyball player Karen Rathgeber. Photo by lim Tom- forde.