Beeville, TX- Coastal Bend College Volleyball entered a new era in 2024 with an almost new team of student-athletes and coaching staff taking the reins. The Lady Cougars were led by Head Coach Claire Hiler from Wills Point, Texas and Assistant Coach Margaret Ramos from Karnes City, Texas. The rebuilding volleyball program came with some veteran leadership by returning sophomores Emma Swift and Faith Wilson, along with collegiate transfers Genesis Casillas and Addison Lewis.
The Cougars entered a preseason run with scrimmages at Dallas College Cedar Valley, taking on the Cedar Valley and Paul Quinn volleyball teams. With a nearly new team representing Coastal Bend, the preseason was a time of developing chemistry and prepping for a competitive conference road ahead. Season opener for the Cougars was a success, taking Southwestern Christian College down in four sets. Following the win at SWCC, the Cougars took on the Ranger Wrangler Roundup tournament hosted by Cisco College and Ranger College, coming out with a 2-2 record coming up short to Cloud County Community college in four sets and Ranger College in three sets. The Cougars ended the tournament tenure on a positive note, defeating Dallas College Mountain View in a five-set thriller day one and Coffeyville Community College in sweeping three set fashion in the final game of the tournament.
Region XIV conference play for the Cougars proved to be a battle, making history however by defeating Lee College at home in a sweep 3-0, a feat unattained by the program in over 8 years. Fighting through conference play, the Region XIV Tournament was upon the Cougars, set to take on Wharton County Junior College in the first round. After a tough three-set battle, Cougar Volleyball ended the season with a tough loss to Wharton County Junior College in the first round.
Two Cougars were honored with Region XIV Accolades, freshman outside hitter, Jada McNeely from Arlington, Texas received All-Conference Honorable Mention. Jada McNeely concluded the season with 175 Kills, 443 Receptions, and 179 digs. Freshman middle blocker, Krystal Jewell from Ingleside, Texas also received All-Conference Honorable Mention. Krystal Jewell concluded the season with 148 Kills, and 48 blocks.
Coastal Bend Volleyball coaching staff Claire Hiler and Margaret Ramos are looking forward to a new era in Coastal Bend College Volleyball, aim to bring a new competitive spirit to the program and welcome driven student-athletes to shape the program into a force to be reckoned with.