Allen Academy volleyball team hoping to continue growth

First-year Allen Academy volleyball coach Gretchen Wilganowski is taking her team to Allen Academy's first T-CAL state volleyball tournament, with play beginning Friday.

Advancing to the state tournament is nothing new for Allen Academy, nor for their coach. Wilganowski, a 2001 Allen Academy graduate, won a TAPPS state championship as a high school player.

"It would be great if my first year coaching here that we could win state," Wilganowski said cautiously.

She feels her youthful team is on the right trend to make a run. The Lady Rams will open play at 11 a.m. Friday against Nacogdoches Home School 3G. All games are being played at San Antonio Cornerstone Christian.

If Allen Academy wins the quarterfinal match, the Lady Rams would meet the Phoenix Charter Firebirds in a 5 p.m. semifinal match. The 2A championship match is set for noon Saturday.

"We started out slow this season," said Wilganowski. "We have a young team but have progressively gotten better. I don't have any seniors this year, so we've been able to grow and will continue to grow next year."

Because of the youth, Wilganowski is making no promises but likes her chances based on what her team has done so far this season.

"We don't know much of our competition because it's new to us, but we've done very well being such a new group," said Wilganowski, whose Lady Rams are 10-13 this season. "All of these girls are new to me, since it's my first year. They played new positions, new rotations. Coming from that to where we are now, we have done fantastic, so I think we'll do good at the state tournament. We just have to stay strong and do what they've learned all season long."

Learning has been the theme of the season for Allen Academy.

"It was definitely interesting starting off, and we were not sure what to expect with a new coach and a whole new program this year," sophomore middle blocker Natasha Kalaouze said. "All the girls have really grown to love volleyball and everybody has found their own strength.

"We entered a lot tournaments where we got to play up and I think that's helped us to shape into an overall good team. We can play good teams and lower teams and still play at the same level. It's challenging and kind of exciting."

That is made more impressive because of Allen Academy's youth.

"I have eighth graders on my team and one of the eighth-grades is a starter," Wilganowski said. "Everybody contributes something to the team. We have strong hitters, some blockers and great defensive specialists."

Outside hitter McKenna Brown and setter Katelyn Clark are the only two juniors on the team.

"I had a vague idea of how to hit," Brown said. "Our coach has taught us so much about how to hit and the fundamentals that we have acquired. Certain aspects that we didn't think were important to our hitting ability and hitting form that she has taught us have proved to be so vital.

"I think we should go to state with an open mind. If we play to our potential, I think we have a very good chance of winning."

Win or lose, the Lady Rams expect to learn from the experience.

"We can only gain from it," said Clark, pointing out that everyone will return. "We haven't gone past the first round of the playoffs in a long time. It's nerve-wracking, but it's exciting because we get to set the tone for what could happen next year."

The Lady Rams already have shown signs of learning on the fly.

"We've been up against some really strong teams, and I've seen things that the girls have done that have really helped us in those matches," Wilganowski said. "When we play teams with a stronger offense, we play a stronger defense and have been able to hang in there."

Win three more and they can hang a new trophy at Allen Academy.