Tyler Junior College

Apaches News

APACHES LADIES HOPE TO RISE TO TOP OF VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE

Thu, Aug 24, 2006 - [Volleyball]

By: JOE BUIE, Staff Writer, Tyler Morning TelegraphTyler Junior College volleyball coach Dana Hatch has upgraded her schedule, talent and coaching staff for the 2006 season.

Whether that's enough to propel the Apache Ladies to the top - in a conference usually dominated by Blinn - remains to be seen.

TJC, which had a 25-22 overall record last year, will open the new campaign Friday at the Navarro Classic Tournament in Corsicana.

The Apache Ladies will open against Laredo at 3 p.m. Friday, then play Lee College or Seminole State (Okla.) either late Friday or early Saturday.

Changes for Hatch include having two assistant coaches - former TJC volleyball standout Jessica Layne and intern Matt Phelps, who played club volleyball at Texas A&M and also helped out with the A&M women's team.

Layne works with the outside hitters, Phelps instructs the right-side hitters, while Hatch coaches the middles and setters.

In recruiting, Hatch signed two international players. She said 5-10 outside hitter Emmanuella Lastrucci of France will make an immediate impact, while Switzerland's Janine Barmettler will take more time to develop.

Hatch has opted in the past to sign more area talent, "But to be able to compete at a higher level, it's almost to the point where you better have that kind of international experience. Those kids train every day three or four hours for volleyball," said Hatch, who added that Arkansas-Fort Smith also recruited Lastrucci.

Lastrucci fills a position of need for the Apache Ladies on the outside.

"That's really a position that hadn't been set until she got here," Hatch said. "She's got great court awareness, she has the ability to look at the defense before she goes to hit a ball. She's very talented."

Lastrucci's serving has also impressed her coach, who observed five different types of serves from the newcomer.

The team's only returning starter is Veronica Ogbeide, a sophomore middle hitter from Hurst who played well as a freshman.

The other returning sophomores are Fort Worth's Haley Hatch, the new setter; Liberty-Eylau's Tiny McHenry, who has moved from outside to middle; and Granbury's Frances Davies, who will start at libero.

TJC's four sophomores impressed Hatch this summer with how they trained for the upcoming season.

"The thing I tell these kids is that championships are made in the summertime, especially for volleyball," Hatch said.

Naomi Mays, a freshman from Columbus, has already made an impact on the outside along with Lastrucci.

Hatch also mentioned that John Tyler's Carol Horn and Terrell's Shawana Watkins should contribute on the outside.

Horn was voted the top hitter in District 12-5A as a senior.

Hatch said Royse City freshman Pamela Arterberry has been a surprise in preseason practices and scrimmages, and will start on the right side. She is backed up by Kerrville freshman Erica Weden, whom Hatch describes as "very sound technically but not as athletic."

Other TJC newcomers are freshman outside hitter Nyeshia Aldridge of Pittsburg, freshman outside hitter Cesily Hart of Troup, and freshman libero Ashley Huckabee of Fort Worth.

Hart was named the top blocker in her district at Troup.

Smoke Signals: Hatch scheduled mainly fellow Division I jucos this year for non-conference. "It's just better in the long run to play tougher teams," she said. ... TJC will play only seven home matches, including the Wagstaff Gymnasium opener Sept. 18 against Seminole State. ... The Apache Ladies will have fewer conference matches (eight) as they will play the other four teams twice (home and away) instead of three times. ... Paris has replaced Lon Morris in the conference.

TJC Volleyball Schedule

Aug. 25-26 Navarro Tournament

Aug. 29 at Richland 6 p.m.

Aug. 30 at Temple 3 p.m.

Aug. 30 vs. #San Jacinto 5 p.m.

Sept. 1-2 Lee College Tournament

Sept. 8-9 North Central Texas Tournament

Sept. 13 at North Central Texas 5 p.m.

Sept. 15-16 Galveston Tournament

Sept. 18 Seminole State (Okla.) 6 p.m.

Sept. 22-23 Arkansas-Fort Smith Tournament

Sept. 26 at Temple 5 p.m.