pooch
08-09-2007, 07:47 AM
what kind of school is this, corpus folks?
T-M resurrects volleyball program
By Stuart Duncan (Contact)
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
CORPUS CHRISTI — For the first time in 20 years, Tuloso-Midway High School will send a volleyball team onto the court.
While the Cherokees aren't eligible to play varsity volleyball until next year because they have to wait for the next UIL district realignment, Tuloso-Midway will play junior varsity and freshman volleyball matches this season.
The Cherokees also have a coach who knows a thing or two about building a successful program.
Coach Melinda Horton guided King to the Class 5A playoffs in each of her nine seasons with the Mustangs, which included four area playoff appearances.
Horton, who helped King start its volleyball program in 1998, left the Mustangs to take over a T-M program that hasn't played a volleyball match since long-time area basketball coach Mike Bourg was coaching the Cherokees' volleyball team in 1987.
"It wasn't an easy decision for me to leave King because I still wanted to see them win a district title but I just felt it was time," Horton said. "I also really like the challenge of building a volleyball program."
"Coach Horton will do a great job at T-M," said Bourg, who is now a computer teacher at King. "She's a great coach -- she's a very intense coach and it won't take her long to turn that into a great volleyball program."
While Horton said the cost of fielding a volleyball team had a lot to do with the T-M's long hiatus between volleyball seasons, she's extremely happy to be a part of the program's resurrection this year.
Horton will coach the junior varsity team this season before taking over the varsity team next season, while T-M assistant Hector Serna will coach the freshman team.
"This is a special group of girls -- they're making history this year," said Horton, who played volleyball for Refugio High School before graduating in 1980.
Thirty seven players showed up for T-M's first workouts Monday, including 17 freshmen and no seniors. Monday was the first day area volleyball teams could practice.
"I wasn't expecting this kind of turnout -- it's tremendous," said Serna, who previously was an assistant in Mathis. "Coach Horton has brought a lot of excitement to the volleyball program and the girls have responded. It should be interesting."
While the Cherokees likely will be in the same district as area heavy hitters Calallen and Flour Bluff, Horton remains optimistic about T-M's chances in upcoming seasons.
"I have high expectations -- these girls have shown the desire to excel," said Horton, whose team opens the season Aug. 14 in Taft. "It may take us four or five years to make the playoffs, but if it happens sooner than that -- by God, that's even better."
T-M resurrects volleyball program
By Stuart Duncan (Contact)
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
CORPUS CHRISTI — For the first time in 20 years, Tuloso-Midway High School will send a volleyball team onto the court.
While the Cherokees aren't eligible to play varsity volleyball until next year because they have to wait for the next UIL district realignment, Tuloso-Midway will play junior varsity and freshman volleyball matches this season.
The Cherokees also have a coach who knows a thing or two about building a successful program.
Coach Melinda Horton guided King to the Class 5A playoffs in each of her nine seasons with the Mustangs, which included four area playoff appearances.
Horton, who helped King start its volleyball program in 1998, left the Mustangs to take over a T-M program that hasn't played a volleyball match since long-time area basketball coach Mike Bourg was coaching the Cherokees' volleyball team in 1987.
"It wasn't an easy decision for me to leave King because I still wanted to see them win a district title but I just felt it was time," Horton said. "I also really like the challenge of building a volleyball program."
"Coach Horton will do a great job at T-M," said Bourg, who is now a computer teacher at King. "She's a great coach -- she's a very intense coach and it won't take her long to turn that into a great volleyball program."
While Horton said the cost of fielding a volleyball team had a lot to do with the T-M's long hiatus between volleyball seasons, she's extremely happy to be a part of the program's resurrection this year.
Horton will coach the junior varsity team this season before taking over the varsity team next season, while T-M assistant Hector Serna will coach the freshman team.
"This is a special group of girls -- they're making history this year," said Horton, who played volleyball for Refugio High School before graduating in 1980.
Thirty seven players showed up for T-M's first workouts Monday, including 17 freshmen and no seniors. Monday was the first day area volleyball teams could practice.
"I wasn't expecting this kind of turnout -- it's tremendous," said Serna, who previously was an assistant in Mathis. "Coach Horton has brought a lot of excitement to the volleyball program and the girls have responded. It should be interesting."
While the Cherokees likely will be in the same district as area heavy hitters Calallen and Flour Bluff, Horton remains optimistic about T-M's chances in upcoming seasons.
"I have high expectations -- these girls have shown the desire to excel," said Horton, whose team opens the season Aug. 14 in Taft. "It may take us four or five years to make the playoffs, but if it happens sooner than that -- by God, that's even better."