By Thomas Jones, Sports Editor

Most prep volleyball players spend their summers scattered across the country, fine-tuning swings with their respective club teams.

And then there’s Westlake’s Sara Shaw, who played a pivotal role in the most rugged youth tournament of them all.

Shaw, an incoming senior at Westlake, completed her tour of action with the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team last week at the FIVB World Championships in Tijuana, Baja California. The 6-foot-2-inch outside hitter couldn’t help the Americans avoid a 12th-place finish, but she did earn a starting spot on a U.S. side loaded with a dozen of the top prep talent in the nation. In a testament to the volleyball talent in the Lone Star State, that team included four Texans. 

A return home doesn’t give Shaw much time for rest. Varsity tryouts occurred earlier this week, and the Chaps have a pair of scrimmages this weekend prior to the season opener against Westwood Monday. 

Expectations haven’t shrunk for Shaw and the Chaps. Westlake enters the preseason Texas Girls Coaches Association poll ranked second behind defending champion Amarillo. The Chaps have been either first or second in the TGCA preseason poll for the past four years.

 

Ready to roll

Westlake’s varsity readies for the upcoming season with several key events this week.

 

* Thursday: Meet the Chaps, 6 p.m.

Coach Al Bennett introduces Westlake’s varsity and subvarsity teams at Westlake High School.

* Friday: Ranger danger, TBA

Team travels to Smithson Valley 

for first preseason scrimmage.

* Saturday: Rock solid, 6:30 p.m.

The Chaps host Round Rock in second scrimmage.

* Monday: Opening act, 6:30 p.m.

Westlake hosts Westwood in the season opener for both squads.

 

Texas Girls Coaches Association Preseason Class 5A poll

1. Amarillo

2. Westlake

3. League City Clear Creek

4. San Antonio Reagan

5. Fort Bend Travis

6. Plano East

7. San Antonio O’Connor

8. Cypress Woods

9. A&M Consolidated

10. Lake Highlands