Lady Cats look to compete in 4-5A
Aug. 22—CLOVIS — Clovis High alum Cristy Hill has spent much of her adult life involved with volleyball.
She's ready to take the reigns after longtime coach Darrel Ray's retirement. The Lady Wildcats (11-13, 4-2 District 4-5A last fall) open their 2023 slate on Tuesday against Amarillo Palo Duro at Rock Staubus Gym.
CHS returns three starters from last season in middle hitter Kailyn Jefferson, outside hitter Erin Creasy and outside hitter-defensive specialist Areyanne Conn, all seniors. Junior setter Amanda De La Rosa also brings back significant experience.
Hill spent 10 seasons coaching at Lovington before joining Ray's staff from 2003-08. The last few seasons, she has been a high school volleyball referee.
"I expect great things," she said. "I think we have the potential to be at the top of the (district)."
She sees a wide-open battle for the title.
"Everybody in the district was heavy on seniors (last year)," Hill said. "And the whole district now has new coaching staffs.
"Roswell (High) will be scrappy, but they're not very big. Hobbs and Carlsbad both have two big kids."
She said the Lady Cats got a look at Roswell High and Carlsbad during the summer, but not Hobbs.
"Our fundamental things are passing and serving," Hill said. "You can't play volleyball if you can't pass or serve. The hits will come if we can do those two things."
The Lady Cats should have some depth, Hill said, with a few players moving up from the junior varsity and other splitting time between the varsity and JV teams.
Cross country — Third-year CHS coach Liz Ledezma said her girls squad has significant numbers "and they're all doing pretty good" as the Wildcats and Lady Wildcats look toward their season-opening Clovis Invitational on Sept. 1 at Ned Houk Park.
Returnees for the Lady Cats include freshman Brooke Newcomer and sophomore Jarelly Navarrete, who helped the team finish 10th in Class 5A state competition last November. Sisters Gabrielle and Joselyn Foggie have joined the program from the track team and could provide some depth.
Junior Sammy Fuentes placed 23rd in the 5A state boys race last year and leads the Cats. Rudy Ledezma, son of the coach, also returns while sophomore Santiago Verdugo will split time between soccer and cross country and could help.
"Sammy's running well," Liz Ledezma said. "Hopefully, we can stay healthy. We're young (on the boys' side), but hungry.
"My plan is to have them start pushing more. I want them to push themselves."
