The Hawkins Lady Hawks are beginning to establish the identity their coach hoped to see this season.
Hawkins entered the final days of August with a 9-5 record and five consecutive victories, a promising start for a team learning new roles and a new offensive system.
Coach Christy McQueen describes the group as adaptable and fearless, particularly because players have been willing to move outside their comfort zones and accept changes in positions and responsibilities.
“They have embraced trying new positions, learning a new offense, and making adjustments without being afraid of change,” McQueen said.
The Lady Hawks are coming off a 13-17 season in which they went 4-4 in district play and reached the Class 2A Division I playoffs.
This season’s early schedule has given McQueen plenty of opportunities to test the versatility of her lineup. After an up-and-down start, Hawkins has found its stride.
The Lady Hawks beat Arp in straight sets Aug. 18 and followed with a 3-1 road victory over Waskom on Aug. 25. Hawkins then swept Bishop Gorman, defeated Alto in three sets and Ore City in two before rallying past East Texas Homeschool Sports, 19-25, 25-17, 25-23, on Aug. 29.
That run pushed Hawkins to 9-5 and extended its winning streak to five.
A group of experienced returners will be counted on to keep that progress moving forward.
According to McQueen, Haylee Skipworth provides versatility across the front row and gives Hawkins a strong offensive option. Ava Ellison is an all-around player capable of setting from anywhere on the court and turning difficult balls into playable opportunities.
Keiper Pruitt is moving into a new role at libero, where McQueen expects her competitiveness, work ethic and determination to help her continue developing.
Hawkins is also looking for contributions from players stepping into larger varsity roles.
Coach McQueen said that Brooklynn Redding is adjusting to the faster pace of varsity volleyball and Hawkins’ quicker offense, while Payton Christian is returning from an injury that slowed her last season. McQueen said Christian has already begun making her presence felt on the outside.
The pieces give Hawkins flexibility throughout its lineup, particularly along the front row, but McQueen knows there is still work to be done before district play.
“As we get into the season, the biggest areas where we still need to improve are communication, trust, and consistency. We have a lot of talent and versatility, but we need to continue communicating effectively on the court and trusting one another, especially in high-pressure situations,” McQueen said.
Hawkins will continue its non-district schedule before opening district play in September, giving the Lady Hawks more opportunities to develop the consistency McQueen wants to see.
While making a strong district run remains a goal, McQueen is emphasizing improvement over results alone. She wants her players to embrace their roles, put the team first and learn from adversity.
For McQueen, a successful season will ultimately be measured by whether Hawkins reaches its potential and becomes a stronger, more connected team.
With five straight victories entering the final days of August, the Lady Hawks appear to be moving in that direction.
Those pieces give Hawkins options, which the coaches value throughout a long season.
McQueen said the Lady Hawks’ ability to move players around the floor should allow them to adjust their lineup based on matchups and situations. She is particularly confident in Hawkins’ outside and front-row attack.
The next step will be turning that versatility into consistent execution.
“As we get into the season, the biggest areas where we still need to improve are communication, trust, and consistency. We have a lot of talent and versatility, but we need to continue communicating effectively on the court and trusting one another, especially in high-pressure situations,” McQueen said.
Those qualities will become increasingly important as Hawkins moves toward district competition.
The Lady Hawks are scheduled to continue their non-district slate against Gary, Marshall, Carlisle, New Diana and Alto before district play begins Sept. 22 at Union Grove. Hawkins is also scheduled to face district opponent Big Sandy at home Oct. 1 before meeting Union Grove again Oct. 8.
For Hawkins, however, the season’s goals extend beyond simply measuring progress in the win-loss column.
McQueen wants to see a team that becomes more connected and dependable as the matches become more important and be a team that is capable of responding to adversity and playing its best volleyball late in the season.
The Lady Hawks have challenged players to embrace whatever roles are needed, put the team first and continue improving each time they take the floor.
Fourteen matches into the season, that process has Hawkins moving in the right direction.
After an uneven start, five straight victories have given the Lady Hawks momentum. The challenge now is carrying that growth into district play and finding out just how far an adaptable, increasingly confident team can go.