Beeville, TX - Fresh off the "best season in history" the CBC volleyball team will begin the season in the same fashion as last year - heading to north Texas for a multi-game road trip. The Cougars went 7-0 last season on that trip. This year's trip might look the same, but there will be some big differences.
The Cougars kick off the year in Dallas with matches on August 22nd at North Lake College before heading further north to participate in the Vernon College Classic in Vernon, Tx. There the Cougars will play Dodge City Community and Richland College on August 23rd before playing Pratt Community College (KS) and host Vernon on Saturday the 24th. The ensuing weekend, the Cougars will be hosting their inaugural Coastal Bend College Classic at the Peter S. Marecek Physical Fitness Center. CBC will host North Lake College, Frank Phillips College and Cisco College during the 29th-31st.
As the season unfolds, the Cougars will play eight more games at home, nine on the road and four at a neutral site at the Lee College Tournament. Included in that home schedule will include first ever trips for 2018 NJCAA National Tournament participants, and Region XIV powers Trinity Valley College and Navarro College on September 27th and 28th respectively. It will be "Dig Pink" day on October 12th when the Cougars host Laredo College. CBC will honor their sophomores on October 26th when they host Blinn College.
The Cougars will return eight student-athletes to this year's team, four of which were starters last season. Three key returners from last year's squad to keep a watch for are; Libero, Alyssa Hutcheson as she became the second female Cougar to be named, All-Region XIV-South First-Team Honors. Hutcheson led the team and Region XIV in digs (720) and 1st team All-Region XIV- South.
CBC Setter, Samantha Santos was named to the Region XIV - South Second Team. Santos a freshman out of San Antonio (Holy Cross High School) led the team in assists (748), assists per set (6.56), which she also lead Region XIV-South, service aces (42) and services aces per set (.37), which was second in Region XIV-South.
Leading the way offensively will be Middle Hitter, Emma Batte; who was also named to the Region XIV - South Second Team. The Houston native led the team in hitting percentage, was third in kills (135), led the team in points scored (214), points per set (2.1), block solos (64), block assists (25) and blocks per set (.890), which she was second in Region XIV-South.
This year for Coastal Bend Volleyball, there will be a change at the helm, as Macy Olness will be the Head Coach, moving over one seat on the bench after serving as an assistant the past two years under Paul Cantrell. The San Angelo native wants to share her knowledge of the game to her team, build team chemistry and build off of last season's success. Olness has high aspirations and hard work from her team this season, and expects the freshmen to hit the ground running.
Also joining the Cougars on the bench will be new assistant Judd "JD" Wisener. Wisener joins CBC after serving on the staff of Division I, Stephen F. Austin State University. He has numerous years of club and high school experience to go along with a playing resume that included time at Texas Tech University. A libero and setter by trade, he will lead the NJCAA Division I's best floor defense from the 2018 season.