If there has ever been a season for the Wellman-Union Lady Cats volleyball team to make a deep postseason run, this could be the year.
The Lady Cats are coming off a strong season in which they finished as district runner-up, captured a Bi-District Championship and advanced two rounds into the playoffs. With an experienced roster returning and a new UIL district alignment in place, expectations are high in Wellman.
The Class 1A volleyball landscape has changed over the past few years as more schools have added the sport. In the 2024 UIL realignment, Wellman-Union was placed in a district with Klondike, Grady and Loop. This time around, the Lady Cats will remain alongside some familiar opponents while adding a couple of new district foes.
Wellman-Union, Klondike and Loop will make up part of District 3, with Southland and Wilson joining the mix.
Klondike will once again be one of the teams to watch. The Lady Cougars put together an impressive season last year and finished as the Region I-1A runner-up, giving the Lady Cats another strong opponent as they pursue a district championship.
Challenging Schedule Ahead
Wellman-Union will waste little time testing itself against quality competition.
The Lady Cats open the season Friday, Aug. 14, at the Shallowater Tournament, where they will likely see several tough opponents. From there, they travel to Olton, a program that has developed into a strong non-district opponent for Wellman-Union over the past several seasons.
The Lady Cats return home Tuesday, Aug. 25, for their home opener against Class 2A Smyer, a program that is still relatively new to volleyball.
Wellman-Union will then hit the road for three straight matches, taking on Christ the King, Class 2A Plains and Class 2A Abernathy. Plains has traditionally provided the Lady Cats with a tough matchup, while Abernathy will offer another good test before Wellman-Union returns home.
The Lady Cats will then play three consecutive home matches against Class 2A Post, Southcrest and Class 2A New Home, another school that has recently added volleyball.
After a short break, the focus will shift to district play.
Wellman-Union opens District 3 action on the road at Wilson before returning home to face Southland. The Lady Cats will then renew their rivalry with Loop on the road.
Following another break in the schedule, Wellman-Union will close out the first half of district play at home against Klondike on Oct. 6. The second half of district competition begins Oct. 10 as the Lady Cats work toward what they hope will be a district championship and another postseason appearance.
Experience Could Be a Major Strength
One of Wellman-Union’s biggest advantages this season could be experience.
The Lady Cats feature a senior-heavy roster with six seniors, along with two juniors and three sophomores. That veteran presence gives the team plenty of players who understand what it takes to win meaningful matches late in the season.
“We are excited about the potential of this year’s Lady Cats volleyball team,” Coach Carter said. “Our goal is to continue building on the progress we made last season. Earning a postseason victory was an important step for our program, and this year we want to build on that success, compete for a district championship and make an even deeper playoff run.”
Among the players expected to lead the way are senior Jerzee Harlan and sophomore Ansley Brown.
According to Carter, Harlan will once again be a key part of the Lady Cats’ defense, providing experience, consistency and leadership on the court.
“Jerzee holds down the fort defensively for us and brings valuable experience, consistency and leadership to the court,” Carter said.
Brown, meanwhile, will be counted on to make an impact at the net.
“Ansley is a talented middle who sets the tone at the net with her presence and competitiveness,” Carter said. “We expect both of them to play major roles in our team’s success.”
The Lady Cats will also rely heavily on their entire senior class, which Carter praised for helping establish the team’s attitude and work ethic.
“Our entire senior class has been a tremendous group of leaders,” Carter said. “They set the tone through their effort, attitude and commitment, and they have done a great job of encouraging their teammates and holding them accountable.”
Several other players are also expected to step into larger roles this season, including Peyton Huston.
“She has worked hard, continues to improve and is someone we are excited to watch this season,” Carter said.
Expectations Are High
After experiencing postseason success a year ago, Wellman-Union is no longer simply hoping to reach the playoffs. The Lady Cats want to take the next step.
The combination of six seniors, talented younger players and a challenging non-district schedule should give Wellman-Union plenty of opportunities to prepare for the important matches that will come later in the year.
“Overall, this group is hardworking and determined to keep moving the program forward,” Carter said. “We know we still have work to do, but our expectations are high. We want to improve every time we take the court, compete for a district championship and build on the postseason success we experienced last year.”
For a Lady Cats program that took a significant step forward last season, 2026 could be the year Wellman-Union turns that progress into an even deeper playoff run.
