Look Out Below
    Hughes Has Left a Large Mark on the Sport
            By Chris Gove, Staff Writer ~Odessa American ~ November 17, 2006

Once Monahans High School's volleyball team completes its season this weekend at the UIL Class 3A State Volleyball Championships in San Marcos, there will be a sense of relief for a lot of people around West Texas.

But there also will be a little sadness in knowing one of the greatest high school careers in West Texas history -- if not the greatest -- has come to a conclusion.

Yes, Brittany Hughes has been just that good during a four-year career with the Lady Loboes that culminates Friday and Saturday with a fourth consecutive trip to the state tournament.

Monahans (41-3) opens the tournament at 1 p.m. Friday with a state semifinal against Luling, just two victories away from defending its championship from a season ago.

"I didn't know anything about her until she was a freshman," Midland High head coach Terri McColloch said, "You heard some hype, but I thought there was no way she could be as good as what I was hearing.  But she was."

The humble Hughes has been, all while developing in many different ways as a player and a person while also being asked to help rekindle Monahans' volleyball tradition.

A 5-foot-11 middle blocker, Hughes is a dominating attacker who can awe fans and opponents with her sheer power.

"Our team would go off and play somewhere and we'd check out whoever the other teams' big hitter was," San Angelo Central coach Connie Bozarth said.  "One of our girls, Danielle Harris, would always say, 'She's good, but she ain't no Brittany Hughes.' "

Can you say living legend?

That's what happens when you can deliver 744 kills, with potentially two more matches left in your team's season.

But that's not all, Hughes also has a team-high 339 digs and 147 aces, showing the kind of complete skills she'll use to play big-time college volleyball.

"With her all-around game, I'd say she is the best I've seen from West Texas," Bozarth said.  "She doesn't have a weakness to her game.  She's deadly hitting-wise and she's a great passer so you can't pick on her there.  Then, she has a jump-serve from the devil."

Hughes' accomplishments and talents haven't been noticed by just opposing coaches and players.

They've made an impact beyond her teammates and Monahans coaches, too.

Though it makes the Monahans senior blush a little, she has been asked on more than one occasion by fans from opposing teams to sign an autograph or two.

In fact, she had to sign several after her team's rout of Canyon in the Region 1-3A quarterfinals last week in Lubbock.

"It's kind of embarrassing,"  Hughes said.  "I'm like, 'Oh, my gosh, you want my autograph?  Are you serious?  It's kind of cool that other people come up and talk to you.

"It's kind of overwhelming, but it's neat."

Hughes stays humble about her talents to outsiders, though she justifiable grew into a leader last season as one of just a handful of player with varsity experience during Monahans' Cinderella run to its first title since 1984.

The Lady Loboes would be very talented without Hughes, so a lack of ego from everybody involved is a huge reason behind the program's success.

"I am amazed to see kids her age ask her for her autograph because most high school kids just don't do that,' said Melody Hughes, Brittany's mother a two-time state champion herself for Monahans in 1982 and 1984.  "There have been so many towns where the people go up to her and want her autograph and want to take their picture with her.  I think it's really neat because it says a lot about her as a player."

"She's never had that cockiness or rude behavior.  Even when she slams the ball to the floor, she goes back and celebrates with her teammates and never taunts the other team.  I think that's one reason why so many people are drawn to her."

Melody Hughes and her husband, Kim, are at the top of that fan list along with 15-year-old Blake, Brittany's younger brother.

Of course, there's the natural bond between a mother and a daughter who have excelled at the same sport for the same team--though 20 years apart.

"We really know our roles and she respects me as her parent," Melody said.  "On the other hand, we're very, very close as friends and we like to hang out and do things together.  That's the part I'll miss the most, other than seeing her play, is just seeing her every day."

There's still plenty of time until Brittany Hughes graduates from Monahans High School, but her days as a Lady Loboes volleyball team definitely are numbered.

She and her teammates will fight as hard as they can to make sure those days end Saturday with another state championship.

"I will never coach a better player," Monahans head coach Patty Dominguez said.  "We have been blessed to have her and have the opportunity to be here with her.  Her mechanics are just outstanding and she has a great knowledge of the game.  We've been able to help her achieve leadership and skills of that kind.  It's going to be hard to say good-bye, but hopefully she'll go onto bigger and better things."