Harden-Jefferson comes into this volleyball season reeling from their 2018 bi-district playoff loss to Livingston, a bitter loss that still lingers. After a second place finish in District 22-4A and a 2017 season that saw the Lady Hawks go three playoff rounds, deep expectations were shattered before November.
A new day shines in Sour Lake as 2019 brings with it a new sense of competition and a clean slate.
"We're coming into this season with the mindset of competing, just as we did last year," said JoLee Kolander.
"Our second place finish made out for a really good season, we were disappointed in the playoff loss but we are looking forward not backward."
The Lady Hawks return seven upperclassmen but are led by three sophomores in Kassidy Shackelford (2022, L), Payton Sparks (2022, S), and Jordan Galle (2022, MB, OH). H-J will most likely battle with Hamshire-Fannett for the district title and the coveted number one playoff seed.
"Its always your goal to win the district title every year," said Kolander.
"We are going to need a total team effort to get this done and Shackelford, Sparks, and Galle will need to be a big part of it."
The district title will most likely come down to the final five days of the season when H-J hosts Hamshire Fannett (10/18) and goes on the road versus Silsbee (10/22).
"The volleyball program is in a good place right now," said Kolander.
"We expect to win our district and go far in the playoffs this year."