After helping lead the Lady Badgers to one of their best seasons in recent history and making the all-district first team, incoming senior Madison Morris was offered a volleyball scholarship from the University of Texas at El Paso. PHOTO BY RICHARD AKRIDGE Madison Morris has an uncontrollable desire to kill.

And she is being rewarded for it.

After helping the Lady Badgers come within one match of reaching the playoffs during her junior year in 2009, the point-producing middle blocker (team-high 50 aces and second-best 217 kills) was offered a volleyball scholarship to the University of Texas at El Paso.

Despite wearing a smile during most matches, Morris is an assassin on the court who is focused on helping her team defeat the opposition.

Morris plans to join the NCAA Division I team after her upcoming senior season in Lampasas. The Miners posted an overall record of 11-18 and went 4-12 in Conference USA action last season.

Although she has an entire year to grow as a player before heading west, she already has experience in turning around struggling programs.

Coming off a 2008 campaign when the Lady Badgers did not win a single district game, Morris’ offensive efforts and defensive tenacity (83 digs, 25 solo blocks and 40 assisted blocks) helped turn around the team’s fortunes before it lost a playoff play-in match to Marble Falls.

While the conclusion was disappointing, Morris’ production was impressive enough to earn her a slot on the District 25-4A All- District First Team.

The significant contributions and improvements seen firsthand by LHS head volleyball coach Beth Rutland leave no doubt in her mind the Miners made the right move.

“Madison has worked extremely hard and has been so committed to improving her game,” the coach said. “I think UTEP will be a great fit, and she will be an asset to their program.”

Morris will conclude her high school career at the Class 3A level after the University Interscholastic League’s reclassification of districts removed Lampasas from District 25-4A.

The move could allow the Lady Badgers to complete the transformation from winless in district to postseason competitor in just two seasons.

While the Lady Badgers will not have to contend with state powerhouses like Lake Travis and Hutto, who finished the 2009 season ranked fifth and 16th, respectively, in the Texas Girls Coaches Association’s Class 4A polls, the road to the postseason will not be an easy one.

Burnet and Liberty Hill, who both join Lampasas in District 25- 3A, were ranked in the top 25 of the TGCA’s final Class 3A poll of 2009.

The Lady Badgers also must overcome the loss of four seniors who were instrumental in the team’s successful 2009 season.

After taking a huge leap in her on-court performance, Morris now must demonstrate she can provide her team with senior leadership.

Rutland feels certain, however, Morris will be up to the challenge.

“I am excited for her and know this will really motivate her to make her senior year at LHS the very best,” the coach said.