PHOTOS BY CLAY WHITTINGTON Lampasas head volleyball coach Beth Rutland, right, delivers instruction to senior Jontell Ritz, center, during Wednesday's practice session. The Lady Badgers are ready to get the bad taste out of their mouths.

After concluding the 2008 season with an 0-10 performance in district competition, the varsity volleyball team wants to win, and they want to win now.

With added emphasis placed on the squad's season-opening matches against Harker Heights and Shoemaker on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, new head coach Beth Rutland feels confident her girls are prepared to climb out of the District 25-4A cellar.

"I strongly believe we will be the fourth team in the playoffs," Rutland said. "If [they] get the transition [from defense to offense] part of the game down, that really makes the team stronger overall as we push for a run for the playoffs.

"We need to learn to put all the pieces together and make it a game."

The Lady Badgers take their first steps toward the lofty team goal this afternoon when they travel to Gatesville for a four-team scrimmage. In addition to the host club, Copperas Cove and Connally also will be participating when the action gets under way at 3 p.m.

Returning varsity players, in black, include, from left, Falon Holland, Madison Morris and Jontell Ritz. A scrimmage was scheduled for Saturday morning against Rockdale, but there is a possibility it won't happen due to confusion in scheduling on Rockdale's part.

Regardless of whether the team makes the trip to Rockdale, Lampasas will have a familiar cast of characters on opening day as six players return from last year's roster, including the entire list of award winners from 2008.

Juniors Falon Holland and Madison Morris ended last season as the most decorated players on the team. Holland took home the Battlin' Badger award, while Morris was named most valuable player, in addition to receiving the top hitter award. Morris and Holland split the top blocker accolade.

Senior libero Sam Gauna was named the top defensive player and was placed on the all-district second team. Outside hitter Sarah Bishop, a four-year letterman, returns after earning the top server award at the team's annual banquet.

"We have an awesome returning group, and we expect big things," Rutland said. "The team as a whole has lots of great parts that make one team."

Other returning players include senior outside hitter Jontell Ritz and classmate Jacqueline Hensley, a setter.

Other players joining the Lady Badgers include juniors Mariah Jones and Kendal Conner, plus sophomores Hadley Brown and Hailey Morrison.

The newcomers will learn to face adversity early and often, as the Lady Badgers play just two home matches in the entire month of August. The first comes on opening day against Harker Heights. The match is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. inside Bozarth- Fowler Gymnasium.

Neither contest is expected to be played inside the new LHS gymnasium, as work is still being completed on the new facilities.

"They are going to be road warriors," Rutland said. "It should make the team unity tighter."

By the time district play rolls around in late September, the Lady Badgers will have played just two matches inside their new gymnasium.

With such a road heavy schedule, grabbing early wins is important.

"These games will really help us set a tone," Rutland said. "I think it's important that we come out and play our hardest and learn to push through when we have a difficult situation.

"I think the kids have the confidence in each other that when the game is on the line, they will come through together."

While the players are chomping at the bit to turn around the program that has struggled in recent years, perhaps nobody is more excited than the first-time varsity head coach.

"I walked in this morning with a big smile on my face," Rutland said. "I think this could be a really awesome year for Lampasas volleyball."