ELGIN — If anyone doubts just how big Elgin’s volleyball game with Hays Friday night is they are kidding themselves.
It’s huge.
The Lady Cats are already guaranteed a piece of the District 17-4A crown thanks to San Marcos’ win over Hays a week ago. All they have to do is win one of their final two games.
But for a team that has spent the entire district season on top of the standings anything but winning the title outright would be unacceptable.
“We took a realistic look at the playoff bracket (Monday) before practice started,” said head coach Hollie Smith. “There is a difference between first or second and third place. We need to understand what a good position we are sitting going into this game.”
With a win Friday against Hays, the Lady Cats can hoist their first outright volleyball district championship trophy in 18 years.
A loss to the Lady Rebels and the Lady Cats would share the title with Hays and San Marcos, but would have to beat Lockhart Tuesday to ensure that would happen.
That is unthinkable for these girls.
It would be a disappointment for anything less than an outright district title.
More importantly, winning Friday would mean Elgin (28-14, 9-1 17-4A) has a greater possibility of a long run in the playoffs rather than having to play a much tougher opponent in the first round.
“Practice this week was important,” Smith said. “I am stressing what Friday means to them and I think it means enough to them to show up ready to play.”
The Lady Cats looked to be cruising to the district championship after going undefeated in the first round of district play and winning their first two games in the second round.
Going into the Oct. 13 game with San Marcos, there wasn’t any doubt that Elgin was the best team in the district.
The Lady Cats were unchallenged by nearly every team and only had one game in their first eight district games go more than three sets.
The opponent that pushed Elgin to four sets — San Marcos — halted the Lady Cats’ sprint to the district title a week ago by stealing a win on Elgin’s home floor.
The Lady Rattlers added salt to the wounds Friday beating Hays and sending Elgin into a must win this weekend against the Lady Rebels.
“There has been a lot of progression with these girls throughout the season,” Smith said. “I feel that maybe we have taken a week off. It’s time to get back on track.”
But there really isn’t a reason to have too much concern, right?
After all, Elgin has defeated Hays twice this year and the two teams last match-up on Sept. 29 in Hays wasn’t even close.
The Lady Cats routed the Lady Rebels in three sets and was very efficient with their offensive game.
Elgin had a team hitting percentage of .342 and committed only seven errors in 69 attempts.
But last Friday against winless Del Valle, the Lady Cats struggled with errors, committing 18 attacking and nine service errors.
“At this point in the season that concerns me, but we did have an outstanding performance from three players who are not usually standouts,” Smith said. “Maybe that’s the trade we need and put everyone on the same page this Friday.”
For the Lady Cats district title hopes that’s what it’s going to take, according to Smith.