Richland High School - Rebel Yearbook (Fort Worth, TX)

Page 109 text:

nprecedented, as in never before done. -That de- scribes the season the girls volleyball team had. It became the first Birdville team to win a University Interscholastic League-sanctioned state champi- onship. Just days after Coach Jodie Powell's birthday, the girls gave her the ultimate gift, by defeating Houston Spring Woods. The final victory marked the end of a roller- coaster season. Fortunately, the team was on a virtually flawless upswing during the playoffs. The team finally came together during a playoff elimination match against Sam Houston. The winner of the match would advance to the playoffs, the loser would watch. 'After losing a lopsided first game, the girls solidified into an invincible volleyball machine, and crushed the Texans in the final two to win. We knew what we had to do to win, senior hitter Dana Rains said. From that point, the step-by- step goal of reaching the state tournament meant reaching re- gional play. Coach Powell saw no reason why the girls couldn't make lit. f We can make it, she said. f The teams in bi-district and area are not as strong as the fifth place team in our own district. The Rebs reached their tempo- rary destination. However, district oe Martin loomed. The Warriors eemed to have the Rebs number, , eating the girls in both crucial dis- rict matches. The consensus eemed to be that the Warriors ould again stop the Rebs and end heir dreams. 1 Those who might have hoped or such a match-up would be dis- ppointed. Martin lost early at re- Eionals, and Richland cruised into he state final four. In the semi-finals, the Rebs faced San Antonio Madison. The Mad- ison was hyped to be one of the better teams in the state, and it was still widely considered that the ebs were only a fluke. Any oubts were quickly put to rest, as the Rebs tore apart Madison, 15-8, 15-13. Dana Rains was the offensive spark in the match, notching 10 kills. However, Powell was most pleased with the Rebel defense. To me our blocking was the best I had seen all year, she said. The victory paired Richland with Spring Woods for, pardon the cliche, all the marbles. The Rebs were not to be denied the Prince in their seemingly Cin- derella season. Spring Woods fell, 15-10, 15-4. After the match, the girls sang Happy Birthday to their elated coach. It was a fitting end to a season that was consistently in consistent. The girls began the year as a championship squad should. The team rattled off 19 wins against one loss and opened dis- trict play with four straight wins. Then the snake reared its ugly head and bit the team. In the middle of October, of- fensive Dana Rains suffered an ankle injury. She was out of practice for a week, and missed a crucial game with cross-town rival, Haltom. As if that wasn't enough misfortune, a week later Tracie Laster had to deal with a death in the family. At this point, Coach Powell had lost two of her starters. To make matters worse, there was another ankle injury. This one stuck Laster in a match, and Powell was forced to use her bench. This all happened in the midst of facing teams in a tough dis- trict. Losses came at the hands of Martin, Sam Houston, Bell and Haltom. It kind of hurt when people kept saying we weren't good, Laster said. But that gave us more reason to prove ourselves. It got us mad and made us want to fight even harder. Luckily, the Rebs were able to fight away the birds of mis- fortune and put the pieces back together. The team finished with a record of 30-7. Returning a vol- ley from the op- posing team with hard spike Jenna Hawkins l15l scores a point. Jenna also played on the basketball team. Photo by Mark Hejnicki. Dana Rains C101 succeeds in re- turning the ball for a point in the Championship game in Austin against Houston Spring Woods. The Lady Rebs won both games against Spring Woods 15-10, and 15-14 to complete their season. Pho- to by Mark Hejnicki. After the last game against Houston Spring Woods Tommy Rollins gives Coach Jody Powell a congrat- ulations hug. The girls winning state was a pleasant birthday present for Coach Powell. Photo by Mark Hejnicki. VARSITY VOLLEYBALL

Page 108 text:

Celebrating a first. This was the first time in Richland's history for a team to win state in an UIL sponsored event. After the the final game the girls gathered together to congratulate each other and celebrate their accomplishment. Photo by Mark Hejnicki STATE CHA PIONSHIP irls win first UIL championship -!,.........f.-, .W - 6. , 3,55 , 6 - sung' ' x11a,.t-will-Iii-I -4 - J- -1..s - -- --.. -4--.-...f ,...,,, ,S While the Lady Reba waited in anticipation for the state trophy to be presented to them, they listened to Susan Zimm recall their road to becoming State Champions. The ladies ended their season with 30 wins and 7 losses. Photo by Mark Hejnicki Design by Brandi Owens

Page 110 text:

State Volleyball Champions Team, coaches pull together for schoolgs first UIL championship We were a family. It's like a mother letting go of her children and watching them get married or go off to college, Jodie Powell. lf there was a single thing that could be given credit for the sea- son, it would be experience. Jen- na Hawkins, who along with Dana Rains was named to the All-tournament team, was a three year member of the Var- sity squad, As a sophomore, she played along with the previous squad to make the playoffs. Powell also added Laster and Rains for the playoffs in 1985. However, that nucleus of ex- perience will be gone next year. Hawkins, Laster, Missie and Mindie Markham will move on to college. These four were all starters. HWe were a family. lt's like a mother letting go of her children and watching them get married or go off to college, Powell said. These kids were my babies, and now they're not anymore. Yes, but while the kids were her babies, they made history. Craig Lancaster. 1 Varsity Volleyball Team. FRONT ROW: Karen Ham- mond, Elizabeth Smith, Mindie Markham, Keri Gartner, Kelly Bates, Missie Markham, Kathy Harris, and Jody Powell. BACK ROW: Ann Costello, Mitzi Ham- mond, Dana Rains, Tracy Brownlee, Jenna Hawkins, Tracy Laster, Michele Bryant, Angie El- lis, and Steve Cheaver, manager. Design by Brandi Owens ,f Getting down under the ball Keri Gartner l18l strives to return the volley, in the game against San Antonio Mad- ison. The Lady Rebs won 15'8, and 15- 13. Photo by Mark Hejnicki. Mindi Markham 1131 saves the ball before it reaches out of bounds in the game against Weatherford. Mindie was also vice-president of Student Council. Photo by Chris Mullins. fx RE