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Natalee James, who is shown preparing to serve in a match last season, and her Snyder teammates will begin preseason volleyball practice at Tiger Gym Wednesday. The Lady Tigers will conclude preseason drills with a scrimmage at Brownfield on Aug. 4.
Snyder head volleyball coach Robbie Braziel may be more excited than a kid in a candy story.
After being named head coach one week before practice began last season, Braziel said she is more confident about workouts this season.
She will begin her second year as head coach when practice begins at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. After three days of practice, Snyder will scrimmage at Brownfield on Aug. 4 and open the regular season at Hawley on Aug. 7.
“I’m super excited about the season and the girls are excited too,” Braziel said. “A lot of the girls participated in the strength and conditioning summer program and played in the summer league at Colorado City with Coahoma, Sweetwater and Colorado City. They are ready to get started.”
Seniors A’Nia Ware and Nicole Martinez head the list of returning experienced players. Junior Natalee James is also back after earning all-district honors last season.
Braziel expects Kate McWilliams, Kendra Bynum and Madelynn Cravens, all juniors, to play significant roles in 2018.
Other players to watch are sophomores Kamiah Davis, Melanie Martinez and Hayley Humphrey.
Braziel said Wednesday morning’s practice will consist of conditioning work on the track.
“We will need to see where the players are as far as conditioning and go from there,” she said. “The players who came to strength and conditioning this summer will have an advantage. Conditioning will be important. We will work on the court during the afternoon practice.”
Snyder could have participated in a second scrimmage on Aug. 6, but Braziel decided not to schedule one before the season opener.
“I want them to have a chance to rest from the first week, so they can be ready for the first match,” she said.
Snyder will play Lamesa, Colorado City, Denver City, Jim Ned and Lubbock Estacado in non-district action and play tournaments at Shallowater, Graham and Denver City.
“We have a tough non-district schedule,” Braziel said. “The tournaments also will be tough. Shallowater, Graham and Denver City are traditionally good programs.”
Realignment placed Snyder in District 5-4A with Sweetwater, Big Spring, Midland Greenwood and San Angelo Lake View. The district opener will be at Big Spring Sept. 21.
“I’m excited about the new district,” Braziel said. “Our goal is to win the district championship. Big Spring and Sweetwater were in our old district and we played Greenwood in the past. Lake View was in Class 5A. The sky is the limit in district. It will come down to which team is clicking at the right time.”
Braziel said the team will work on all areas, especially on improving its passing skills.
“Passing will be important,” she said. “You must control the ball and put it where it needs to be. We will be working on our hitting. We did a good job last year of serving and defending was one of our strengths.”
Braziel remembers when Snyder was one of the state’s top programs and hopes to restore that tradition.
“We are building,” she said. “It is not going to be easy. The JV team had a good season last season and I hope it carries over.”
SHS Volleyball Schedule
Aug. 4 Brownfield-x 9 a.m. Away
Aug. 7 Sterling City 4 p.m. Hawley
Aug. 7 Hawley TBA Away
Aug. 9 Shallowater tournament TBA Away
Aug. 10 Shallowater tournament TBA Away
Aug. 11 Shallowater tournament TBA Away
Aug. 14 Wellman-Union 4 p.m. Brownfield
Aug. 14 Brownfield TBA Away
Aug. 17 Graham tournament TBA Away
Aug. 18 Graham tournament TBA Away
Aug. 24 Denver City tournament TBA Away
Aug. 25 Denver City tournament TBA Away
Aug. 28 Lamesa 5 p.m. Away
Sept. 11 Colorado City 6:30 p.m. Home
Sept. 15 Denver City 10 a.m. Home
Sept. 15 Jim Ned 10 a.m. Home
Sept. 18 Lubbock Estacado 6 p.m. Away
Sept. 21 Big Spring-y 4:30 p.m. Away
Sept. 29 Sweetwater-y noon Away
Oct. 2 Midland Greenwood-y 6 p.m. Away
Oct. 5 San Angelo Lake View-y 4:30 p.m. Away
Oct. 9 Big Spring-y 7 p.m. Home
Oct. 16 Sweetwater-y 7 p.m. Home
Oct. 19 Midland Greenwood-y 4:30 p.m. Home
Oct. 23 San Angelo Lake View-y 7 p.m. Home
x — Scrimmage
y — District 5-4A match