Lovejoy wins Class 3A volleyball title | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas

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Lovejoy wins Class 3A volleyball title

11:03 PM CST on Saturday, November 21, 2009

By MARK DENT / The Dallas Morning News

SAN MARCOS – Before the start of the third game, the Lovejoy players gave one another high-fives, and Lauren McDaniel mouthed the words of a T.I. song.

They always hype themselves up, but with a state championship close, they let loose. Lovejoy defeated Monahans on Saturday, winning its second consecutive 3A state title in three games, 25-20, 25-21, 25-23.

And this one, said the group of seniors standing outside the locker room, felt much better than the first.

"We worked so hard for this, and we did it," McDaniel said.

No Texas school has developed its volleyball program this quickly. In 2006, Lovejoy didn't have a varsity team. Now the Leopards have two state titles.

Lovejoy hasn't lost a match to a 3A opponent since Aug. 16, 2008. It didn't lose a game in a regular-season match to a 3A school this season. It has defeated top schools such as Richardson Pearce, Sachse and Hebron.

The girls attribute the success to club volleyball. Many of them have played together since third grade. They say they lean on one another, and it showed in Saturday's third game. Monahans mounted a comeback, taking a 22-18 lead.

But McDaniel, Kate Turner and Addason Lamb pulled Lovejoy out of trouble, and sophomore Andie Malloy, who was named championship MVP, made several key blocks and kills to rally them to a 25-23 win.

"It's been a good run," senior Tyler Bradsher said. "We're happy with it."

Poth d. Aubrey, 25-8, 25-23, 25-12: "We were out there and had the chance," Aubrey coach Joe Bullard said. "That's all you can ask for."

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