But the experience gained during those 39 matches – not to mention nine returning players from the 2021 squad – should put the Cougars in a position to compete for a spot in the new-look District 4-5A, which consists of Cooper, Abilene High, Wylie, Lubbock High, Lubbock Cooper, Lubbock Coronado, and Lubbock Monterey.
Lubbock Cooper, Wylie, Coronado, and Monterey each reached the Class 5A playoffs last season with Lubbock Cooper (37-11 overall and 10-0 in district play) and Wylie (30-14 and 8-2) each posting 30-plus wins on their way to regional quarterfinal appearances.
Cooper, which reached the playoffs in 2014, 2015, and from 2017-20, missed the post-season fun last year after finishing 3-7 in the district. Coach Nora Campbell is counting on the experience gained from that rough season as the team approaches the 2022 district season.
“With all of the returning players, I think we have a much stronger grip on what it takes to play at the pace and with the intensity the varsity level requires,” she said. “That comes from experience, and all of those girls got a taste of that last year. The girls in our program have proven that we should be challenging for a playoff spot each year. We’ve made the playoffs 9 of the last 14 years, and that’s the standard we’ve set for our program. We want every athlete who comes through our program to get the chance to experience the playoffs and play for gold balls (trophies) because it’s a feeling like no other.”
Leading the way for the Cougars in 2022 are senior Karrigan Parrott, who was a second team all-district setter in 2021, along with honorable mention all-district selections Mattie Tibbets (senior middle blocker) and Skyla Stark (senior right-side hitter). In addition, senior outside hitter Marissa Chavez, senior setter Kylie Cox, senior libero Lune Finch, junior defensive specialist/outside hitter Jazlyn Hatcher, and junior middle blocker Abigail Pena-Perez provide the Cougars with outstanding depth with several of those battling for starting spots.
COOPER HIGH SCHOOL 2022 VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW
Coach (seasons as head coach / overall record): Nora Campbell (19th season / 337-337)
Last season (overall record, district record, district finish): 16-23 overall (3-7, 5th place in District 4-5A)
Last playoff appearance (year, result): 2020 (Lost in Regional Quarterfinals to Canyon Randall)
Last district championship (year): 2015, 7-1 in District 4-5A)
2022 District Opponents: District 4-5A (Abilene High, Abilene Wylie, Lubbock High, Lubbock Cooper, Lubbock Coronado, Lubbock Monterey)
Letterwinners Returning / Lost: 9 / 5
Returning Letterwinners (name, classification, and position): Karrigan Parrott, sr, Setter (2nd team All-District 4-5A); Mattie Tibbets, sr, middle blocker (honorable mention All-District); Skyla Stark, sr, Rightside Hitter (honorable mention All-District); Marissa Chavez, sr, Outside Hitter; Kyle Cox, sr, Setter; Lune Finch, sr, Libero; Jazlyn Hatcher, jr, Defensive Specialist/Outside Hitter; Abigail Pena-Perez, jr, Middle Blocker
2022 Team Strengths – 9 returning varsity players
2022 Team Weaknesses – Lack of playoff experience
Goals – Get back into the playoffs for the 10th time in the last 15 seasons
Coach Campbell says: “We have a large core group of returners from last year’s team who are well aware that the volleyball we play daily needs to be consistent and elite for us to meet the goals we know we are capable of meeting. We made strides last year with a young injury-laden team that stayed the course. We plan to build off of the momentum gained last year and put ourselves in a position where we can make a deep playoff run. Our team is going to value and embrace their teammates, coaches, hard work, competition, and all the other great attributes being a part of a team will bring them.”
COOPER HIGH SCHOOL 2022 VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
Fri., Aug. 5 – at Decatur, 10 a.m.
Sat., Aug. 6 – vs. Hawley, Cougar Gym, 9 a.m.
Tues., Aug. 9 – vs. Keller Fossil Ridge, Hurst, 3:30 p.m.
Tues., Aug. 9 – at L.D. Bell, Hurst, 5 p.m.
Thurs., Aug. 11 – vs. Sweetwater, Cougar Gym, 3 p.m.
Thurs., Aug. 11 – vs. Wichita Falls, Cougar Gym, 6 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 12-Sat., Aug. 13 – Bev Ball Tournament, Abilene
Tues., Aug. 16 – vs. Midland Christian, Cougar Gym, 5 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 19-Sat., Aug. 20 – at Haltom High School Tournament, Fort Worth
Tues., Aug. 23 – at Jim Ned, Tuscola, 6 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 26-Sat., Aug. 27 – at Frenship Tournament, Wolfforth
Tues., Aug. 30 – vs. San Angelo Central, Cougar Gym, 6 p.m.
Tues., Sept. 6 – at Midland High, Midland, 6 p.m.
* Fri., Sept. 9 – at Lubbock Cooper, Lubbock, 5 p.m.
* Tues., Sept. 13 – vs. Abilene High, Cougar Gym, 6 p.m.
* Sat., Sept. 17 – at Wylie, Abilene, 11:30 a.m.
Tues., Sept. 20 – at Graham HS, Graham, 5:30 p.m.
* Fri., Sept. 23 – vs. Lubbock Monterey, Cougar Gym, 5 p.m.
* Tues., Sept. 27 – at Lubbock High, Lubbock, 6 p.m.
* Fri., Sept. 30 – vs. Lubbock Coronado, Cougar Gym, 5 p.m.
* Tues., Oct. 4 – vs. Lubbock Cooper, Cougar Gym, 6 p.m.
* Fri., Oct. 7 – at Abilene High, Eagle Gym, 5 p.m.
* Tues., Oct. 11 – vs. Wylie, Cougar Gym, 6 p.m.
* Tues., Oct. 18 – at Lubbock Monterey, Lubbock, 6 p.m.
* Fri., Oct. 21 – vs. Lubbock High, Cougar Gym, 5 p.m.
* Tues., Oct. 25 – at Lubbock Coronado, Lubbock, 6 p.m.
* District 4-5A match
