Back		Monahans Begins Quest for Another State Trip
	by Chris Gove ~~ Odessa American ~~ August 15, 2006

A season of transition certainly awaits Monahans High School's volleyball team.

But a rebuilding season?

Think again.

The Lady Loboes begin their quest for a fifth consecutive trip to the Class 3A UIL State Volleyball Championships today when they face Midland High and San Angelo Lake View in Midland.

Four players -- senior middle blocker Catherine Cutbirth, senior defensive specialist Dina Ortiz, senior outside hitter Bethany Willmon and junior middle blocker Bailey Marcum -- return after starting in two consecutive state championship matches.

That level of experience is impressive, though it also may be overlooked since the team also graduated three strong players -- including Brittany Hughes, a once-in-a-generation athlete who now is playing at Texas Tech.

"I think the shadow that the rest of these kids were under for so long, it's hard for other coaches to see that," said Patty Dominguez, who is going into her 10th season as the Monahans head coach.  "They don't realize the strength of the kids we have, and these kids are really stepping up right now.  They're carrying themselves and establishing themselves."

It can't hurt that Cutbirth, Ortiz, Willmon and Marcum were on the court pretty much throughout all of last year's 42-4 state runner-up season.  Cutbirth, in fact, was one of six players, named to the UIL All-State Tournament team after Monahans fell to Bellville in a five-game state final.

Those four players also player for much of the 36-10 campaign in 2004, which included the program's first state championship since 1984.

A few incoming players will have to make an impact, as well, Jordan Latham, a junior outside hitter who was a state track and field qualifier in May, and junior setter Kaitlin Mitchell lead that list.

"You see good things and you see the little flashes of when it looks good,"  Dominguez said.  "It's just a matter of being more consistent and getting them in here to the gym.  By the time November hits, we will have had tons of practice and games and tournaments, and by them it will all be clicking.  We'll have some mistakes, but that's OK.  It'll come, it'll come."

Dominguez is stressing to her players that their offensive impact will have to be greater without Hughes and graduated Ali Miller, who will be playing collegiately at Western Texas College.

The Lady Loboes also will have to be scrappier since they have average height.  At 5-foot-9, Marcum is the giant of the Monahans lineup.

"We're going to have to play defense, and we've done that," Dominguez said.   "During two-a-days, we've focused a lot on defense, and I think it's kind of showing.  I've been really pleased with the defensive effort and the passing.  That was a big thing on my mind this summer I knew we were going to have to do something about."