2014 Volleyball Preview: Teams + Players To Watch

The volleyball season officially gets under way Monday, and several East Texas teams are shooting for big goals over the next few months.

In particular, the Spring Hill Lady Panthers will be aiming for their second consecutive trip to the state tournament after reaching their first state semifinal. With a trio of standouts returning -- Ann Hollas, Jenna Hampton and Mikai Brown -- the Lady Panthers appear to be in prime position to do just that.

2014 ETSN.fm East Texas Volleyball Preview

TEAMS TO WATCH

Lindale's volleyball team poses after win in four games at Whitehouse on Oct. 29, 2013, to clinch an undefeated District 16-4A championship. (Gabe Brooks, ETSN.fm)

Lindale

2013 finish: 26-3 (4A area finalist)

Hallsville assistant coach Kourtney Adams (left) and head coach Kayla Jackson (center) watch from the bench during an Aug. 20, 2013, match at White Oak. (Christopher R. Vinn, ETSN.fm)

Hallsville

2013 finish: 30-10 (4A area finalist)

Spring Hill's Ann Hollas passes the ball while teammate Audrey Collier (8) looks on during the Lady Panthers' win at Gilmer on Oct. 1, 2013. (Christopher R. Vinn, ETSN.fm)

Spring Hill

2013 finish: 38-3 (3A state semifinalist)

Van

2013 finish: 34-7 (3A area finalist)

The Gilmer bench erupts after a point during their match with Spring Hill in Gilmer on Oct. 1, 2013. (Christopher R. Vinn, ETSN.fm)

Gilmer

2013 finish: 25-12 (3A area finalist)

Carthae's Marish Ingram spikes a kill during a playoff win vs. Palestine in Whitehouse on Nov. 4, 2013. (Bud Worley, ETSN.fm)

Carthage

2013 finish: 33-9 (3A area finalist)

Queen City

2013 finish: 27-8 (2A regional semifinalist)

Alba-Golden

2013 finish: 17-23 (2A regional quarterfinalist)

Quitman

2013 finish: 27-14 (2A regional semifinalist)

Palestine Westwood

2013 finish: 37-9 (2A regional semifinalist)

New Diana coach Andrew Harbison instructs his team during a match at Tyler Lee on Sept. 10, 2013. (Christopher R. Vinn, ETSN.fm)

New Diana

2013 finish: 30-11 (2A regional quarterfinalist)

White Oak coach Nicole Thorn addresses her team during an Aug. 20, 2013, home tri-match against Hallsville and Spring Hill. (Christopher R. Vinn, ETSN.fm)

White Oak

2013 finish: 34-9 (2A regional semifinalist)

Troup

2013 finish: 27-14 (2A regional quarterfinalist)

Beckville

2013 finish: 30-5 (1A regional semifinalist)

Big Sandy

2013 finish: N/A (1A regional semifinalist)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Pine Tree's Sky Holmes. (Christopher R. Vinn, ETSN.fm)

Kaitlyn Adams, MB/S, Jr., Longview

2013 stats: 244 kills, 295 assists; District 12-5A second-team

Ashton Ates, MB, Sr., Whitehouse

2013 stats: 246 kills, 55 blocks, 75 digs; District 16-4A Blocker of the Year

Bailee Birdsong, OH, Jr., New Diana

2013 stats: 339 kills, 75 digs, 64 aces, 12 blocks

Carson Blair, OH, Jr., Beckville

2013 stats: 243 kills, 342 digs, 77 aces; District 20-A Newcomer of the Year

Jordan Boles, OH, Jr., Henderson

2013 stats: 288 kills, 28 blocks, 276 digs, 40 aces, .940 hitting percentage, .920 serve percentage; District 16-3A first-team

Hallsville's Haley Boyett plays the ball during an Aug. 20, 2013, match at White Oak. (Christopher R. Vinn, ETSN.fm)

Haley Boyett, S., Sr., Hallsville

2013 stats: 1,209 assists, 211 digs, 63 aces, 46 kills, District 14-4A Top Setter

Mikai Brown, OH, Sr., Spring Hill

2013 stats: 268 kills, 279 digs, 152 points, 28 blocks, 68 aces

Hallee Carter, MB, Sr., Van

2013 stats: 316 kills, 39 blocks, 345 digs, 87 aces; District 15-3A Hitter of the Year

Amanda Dimon, L, Sr., Whitehouse

2013 stats: 508 digs, 25 kills, 43 aces; District 16-4A Co-Libero of the Year

Mackenzie Fish, OH, Sr., Bullard

2013 stats: 283 kills, 19 blocks, 390 digs, 58 aces, .323 kill percentage; District 16-3A first-team

Ronnie Fountain, S, Sr., Whitehouse

2013 stats: 759 assists, 264 digs, 93 kills, 18 blocks, 30 aces; District 16-4A first-team

Breanne Gunn, MB, Sr., Hughes Springs

2013 stats: 424 kills, 42 blocks, 218 digs, 23 assists, 60 aces, .191 hitting percentage, .356 kill percentage; District 16-2A first-team

Spring Hill middle blocker Jenna Hampton. (Courtesy, Jeanette Cobb)

Jenna Hampton, MB, Jr., Spring Hill

2013 stats: 231 kills, 103 blocks, 13 digs, 5 aces; District 16-3A Newcomer of the Year

Spring Hill outside hitter Ann Hollas. (Courtesy, Jeanette Cobb)

Ann Hollas, MB, Jr., Spring Hill

2013 stats: 531 kills, 150 blocks, 201 digs, 45 aces; District 16-3A MVP

Sky Holmes, MB, Sr., Pine Tree

2013 stats: 384 kills, 119 blocks, 231 digs, 79 aces, 368 serve-receptions; District 14-4A Top Hitter

Carthage's Marisah Ingram. (Christopher R. Vinn, ETSN.fm)

Marisah Ingram, MB, Sr., Carthage

2013 stats: 317 kills, 57 blocks, District 20-3A Offensive Player of the Year

Jayden Mount, S, Jr., Sabine

2013 stats: 476 assists, 222 digs, 66 aces, .950 serve percentage; District 18-2A first-team

Rhyan Rand, OH, Jr., Lindale

2013 stats: 238 kills, 42 blocks, 145 digs, .955 serve percentage, .353 kill percentage, .206 hitting percentage; District 16-4A Newcomer of the Year

Maci Ritter, MB, Sr., Gilmer