Lindale Volleyball Coach Meghan Koonce Embraces Jump to 4A

LINDALE -- Lindale may have moved to Class 4A, but that certainly hasn’t changed the expectations of Lady Eagles volleyball coach Meghan Koonce.

“I think we’ll do well in the district and when I say well and I mean win it,” Koonce said Wednesday during an afternoon practice.

But right now, Koonce is taking things one day at a time.

“It’s been good, it’s been a lot of change,” Koonce said. “And when I say change, it’s a lot of new kids and moving kids around here and there and new positions for kids. It’s been one of the smoothest (preseason camps) I’ve had since I’ve been catching.”

Lindale, after competing in 3A the last two seasons, is now a member of District 16-4A, which consists of Corsicana, Jacksonville, John Tyler, Nacogdoches and Whitehouse.

“I think the kids are ready for it,” Koonce said of the new league. “We’re pretty excited about the new competition. They understand it’s going to be tougher for us, but I think we’ve got a good group of kids. We’ve got some pretty good leadership and we’re pretty excited about the challenge, so I think we can handle it.”

Koonce said she’s excited about the return of senior middle blocker Savannah Cantrell.

“She’s the kid that’s one of the first ones here and one of the last ones to leave,” Koonce said. “She’s the one that comes up here and asks to stay up here longer for an extra 30 minutes or an hour. She works hard to get to where she’s at.”

Lindale opens the season with a dual match Aug. 14 against Marshall and Liberty-Eylau in Marshall.