By Tony Adams for Temple College
This weekend, the Temple College Volleyball team is in Snyder, kicking off the 2024 season with a two-day tournament at Western Texas College.
The Leopards lost the first match against WTC Friday (3-2) but defeated Southwestern Christian College (3-0).
TC will play Blinn College (9 a.m.) and Dallas College Mountain View (3 p.m.) on Saturday.
TC played SWCC twice in conference play last season and won by scores of 3-1 (20-25, 25-8, 25-15, 25-15) and 3-0 (25-10, 25-22, 25-6). The Leopards were swept by Blinn in their only meeting of 2023, 3-0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-20). This weekend marks Temple’s first matches against Western Texas and Mountain View since 2021.
“All teams will show us a different style of play,” Melancon said. “It will be a good indication of our ability to adjust throughout matches. My sophomores are still doing an excellent job of leading and becoming an extension of us coaches, which is huge during matches for our freshmen.”
The tournament will start a stretch of 12 of 13 games on the road for the Leopards between Friday and Sept. 11. TC hosts Coastal Bend College on Aug. 27 amid the road swing.
With the depth that TC has this season, head coach Rachel Melancon observed members of the team that were ready to step in to make an immediate impact.
“They showed me that we have options,” Melancon said. “If one player isn’t on that day, I have depth that can step in and handle business.”
The Leopards showed plenty of promise during the scrimmage, showing a great deal of excitement, intensity and passion.
“I feel they are excited about this season,” Melancon said. “They see the promise, talent and possibility of really making a mark in our program. They do not want to just be here for two years: they want to be part of the foundation.
Some teams rely on long, early season road trips to bond.
“I usually do a huge team bonding event at the beginning of the season, but I’ve learned that they will bond if they want and won’t if they don’t want to-I can’t force it,” Melancon said. “They all seem to be on the same page and able to work with each other in productive and competitive ways. I am hoping playing away will also get them used to spending hours traveling and then having to get off the bus focused and ready to play. It’s hard to travel 2-3 hours for every conference game and be ready to compete. It is mentally draining but my hope is that they will be used to it by then.”
ABOUT TEMPLE COLLEGE
Temple College is “Your Community’s College,” a dynamic and growing community college that equips thousands of Central Texas students with the knowledge and skills for 21st-century success. Temple College, which has campuses in Temple, Hutto and Taylor, offers more than 75 degree and certificate programs to students who seek to earn credits for transfer, graduate with an associate degree or complete a certificate for fast entry into the workforce.
Founded in 1926, Temple College has enjoyed a reputation for academic excellence for 98 years. It is nationally recognized for its exceptional programs, from visual and performing arts to competitive athletics. The College has become one of the state’s premiere institutions for healthcare providers’ education and training, advanced manufacturing, and workforce development programs. The faculty and staff are committed to providing exceptional quality instruction.