Smithson Valley Rangers Ready for the Next Level
Texas High School Volleyball is littered with amazing athletes that come from all over the state. We are going to introduce you to District 27-6A program Smithson Valley Rangers. The Rangers used to be in 26-6A, but after UIL realigned the…
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Continue ReadingTexas High School Volleyball is littered with amazing athletes that come from all over the state. We are going to introduce you to District 27-6A program Smithson Valley Rangers.
The Rangers used to be in 26-6A, but after UIL realigned the districts, they are now in 27-6A. They have made the playoffs seventeen times out of the last two decades and have made it to the area round 11 times in that time as well. They are looking to go a little deeper in the playoffs this coming year due to the play of a few stellar upperclassmen that have more experience.
Before beginning her current role at Smithson Valley, Coach Patton was the head coach for Alamo Heights. She was awarded the 2014 San Antonio Express-News All-Area Coach of the Year. She amassed a record of 323-133 in 11 seasons at Alamo Heights. She advanced Alamo Heights to the Region IV-5A final in 2014, losing a five-set heartbreaker to Dripping Springs. She also made it to the regional semifinals twice in her coaching career. She brings great leadership to the Ranger program.
Coach Patton is no stranger to success on the v-ball court as she guided her squad to the playoffs in all 11 seasons she was at the helm of Alamo Heights. Patton herself was an All-Area setter during her school years at Churchill High. During that time she helped lead them to the UIL state tournament in 1998.
We had a chance to sit down with Coach Courtney Patton to discuss her program and here is a little from our conversation.
Prep Dig Tx: What do you love about the school?
Coach Patton: Smithson Valley is a tremendous place to coach. This community and the families involved are committed to our success, and excited to watch their daughters excel. These girls are committed to each other and our key values: Bleed Blue, 100%, ALL In.
Prep Dig Tx: What is your coaching philosophy and how do you apply it to your teams?
Coach Patton: My coaching philosophy is pretty simple. Love the game and go all out! Volleyball is a huge part of my life and has been from a very young age. I absolutely love watching kids excel.
Prep Dig Tx: What is your expectation for district play this coming season?
Coach Patton: Smithson Valley has a volleyball rich tradition that we are excited to uphold each season. These girls work hard day in and day out to be great in the classroom, and on the court. This season we hope to be a contender for the district title. Our off-season was tremendous and our leadership is the best I’ve seen.
Let’s meet some of the unquestioned leaders of the team that will take this program to the next level. I was able to get some quotes from each athlete also. I love the way they love their program.
Hailey Hayes [2021] 5-11 Outside (HS: Smithson Valley/Club: AVA San Antonio/Verbal: Uncommitted)
According to Coach Patton, Hailey is a tremendous leader and team player. No matter what is asked of her she finds a way to get it done. She is a great leader and her teammates have the upmost respect for her. Hailey will be a threat on both pins this season as she is one of their offensive leaders. She is a solid player and is a six-rotation outside for the Rangers. She has a very nice arm swing that will score points for Smithson Valley. She is able to swing line and angle well and with good power. The Rangers will look to her for her senior leadership and experience.
Hailey – “The Smithson Valley volleyball program is about more than just playing a sport. On and off the court every player is different and unique, talented in their own way. We as a program value our differences and highlight the importance of each member. No matter the position or skill, when Smithson Valley volleyball steps onto the court in August, not only will you see a strong hungry team, but also a tightly bonded family.”
Jaci Mesa Jaci Mesa 5'6" | DS/L Smithson Valley | 2022 State TX [2022] 5-6 Libero (HS: Smithson Valley/Club: Alamo/Verbal: Uncommitted))
Coach Patton says that Jaci is a huge part of their expected success. She will anchor the Ranger defense and serve receive with hustle, energy, and consistency. She’s extremely fun to watch and a huge playmaker for SVHS. Jaci is ranked as the best Libero in the State of Texas according to our Prep Dig rankings. We recently wrote an article about her abilities on the court and we will be watching her continue to grow into an amazing volleyball player. Her defensive range is phenomenal in the back row and she is a pinpoint accurate passer out of serve receive. She has amazing body control and plays the game the way it should be played, all out.
Jaci – “Being a part of this volleyball program is one of the best choices I’ve made in high school. These girls double as my teammates and my best friends. I have many goals for this team that are completely reachable because of the talented and very hard-working girls we have as returners, the dedicated coaching staff we have, as well as the additions we may see come August.”
Rebekah Williams [2022] 6-0 Outside/Middle (HS: Smithson Valley/Club: Alamo/Verbal: Uncommitted))
Coach Patton says that Bekah is an explosive player with so much contagious energy when she plays. She will be a threat for Smithson Valley on the outside with her versatility in offense. Bekah is a blocking machine and we can’t wait to watch her tear down opponents. She plays middle on her club team at nationally known club Alamo. She plays with a lot of fire and intensity. At Prep Dig, we love players like this. She has a cannon for an arm and will be one of the main offensive weapons for the Smithson Valley program this season. She has all fo the tools necessary to be a dominant force at the net. We expect great things from Bekah moving forward. She is currently unranked in our State Rankings, but once I finish the updates and release them in June, she should be on them.
Bekah – “This upcoming season is going to be one for the books. Not only do we have a team full of amazing talented girls and a great coach to lead us to victory, but after being sidelined by the pandemic, we are all biting at the bits to get together on that court. One of our biggest strengths will be our unity as a team. I’ll be entering my 3rd season and I feel like this year with these girls, we’ve got what it takes to go far and are closer than I’ve ever seen.”
Naomi Ortiz [2021] 5-10 Outside (HS: Smithson Valley/Club: 210 Beach/Verbal: Uncommitted))
Naomi plays on the beach circuit for 210 Beach. Playing doubles in the sand is a totally different sport than indoor 6’s. In the sand, its just you an one other partner. This means you have to cover a lot more ground and be a totally well-rounded player as you have to pass serve, set to your partner, attack, block and dig. This translates to indoor by developing into a six-rotation player. She will be a valuable asset to the Ranger program and an integral part of their success. She has good court vision in the sand and is able to use her ball control to place the ball into open spots to score. But, don’t let that fool you into thinking she is just a ball control outside. This young lady has a great armswing also and can hit with power.
Naomi – “One of my favorite things about the Smithson Valley volleyball program is that it carries a lot of tradition, and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls to uphold that tradition with. The returners on this team are extremely committed to each other and I have high hopes for the new faces we’ll see come August. Our coach is so devoted to our success that it’s not difficult to turn our dreams for this season into achievable goals.”
I don’t know about you, but reading these quotes from these young ladies give me chills. I can’t wait until this pandemic is over and we can get to see them on the court.
There are many stories of schools and club teams similar to this that we will be covering. Stay tuned for more great info. If you think your school or club has a good story, please contact me and I will gladly communicate. You can email me at nov8vb@yahoo.com.