Midland High's team captains were determined to get back to the postseason this year.
Senior right side Ava Wilson, senior middle hitter Karlie Gist and junior libero Mabry Scharbauer had plenty of inspiration to work hard this offseason.
The proud Lady Bulldogs volleyball program finished the 2023 season with a 27-16 record, but it wasn't a successful campaign as MHS finished fifth in District 2-6A and missed out on the playoffs.
Scharbauer, Gist and Wilson have accomplished their mission this year as the Lady Bulldogs (23-18) will visit El Paso Franklin (32-10) in the bi-district round of the Class 6A Division I playoffs at 5 p.m. CST Monday.
All three captains played key roles in helping MHS to the postseason as the 6-foot-1 Wilson averaged 8.6 kills per match in District 2-6A play, the 5-3 Scharbauer averaged 20.6 digs, and the 5-10 Gist put up 2.9 blocks per league match.
"I think as soon as we ended our season last year, we were very determined just in everything that we were doing," Gist said. "That it wasn't going to be a repeat and that we wanted to prove ourselves not only to each other, but to our town. I think it's pretty cool this year to say that we are going to the playoffs and to know that all the hard work that we put in is paying off."
The Lady Bulldogs completely changed the narrative this season.
MHS snapped a six-match losing streak against crosstown rival Legacy and swept the season series against the playoff-bound Lady Rebels.
The Lady Bulldogs also competed for a District 2-6A crown heading into the final day of the regular season.
The 2023 season was the opposite as MHS missed the postseason for only the third time in the previous 29 years.
"I believe every year we should be expected to be in the playoffs and have a home game," Scharbauer said. "I feel like that will be even more motivation for me next year. I feel like not making the playoffs last year was really upsetting to all of us and really embarrassing to the town. That's why we pushed hard this year and we're in the position that we are at."
Added Wilson: "I was disappointed, and I think the team as a whole was disappointed. But I think we took that disappointment and used it as motivation this year. We didn't want to feel that way again. It really made a difference."
MHS head coach Audra Howard said Scharbauer, Gist and Wilson have guided the Lady Bulldogs with their leadership.
"They've played a huge role," Howard said. "They're just great leaders on and off the court. Their performance speaks for itself. Having them three on the court is a huge impact. If someone is not on, you can tell. You know. Thankfully, Mabry being a junior and the other two being seniors, they can talk to everybody. My juniors relate to Mabry a little more. My seniors relate to the other two a little more, but as a whole they all come together and it's just nice."
Gist said Howard played an instrumental role in the program's 2024 turnaround.
Howard was in her second season at the helm of the MHS program.
"Coach Howard was very determined this year to make up for last year," Gist said. "We all were. She really stood by our side and told us that she knew we could do it, we would just have to put all of our practice and work into results. If that's what we did, then it would an easy road for us as long as we put in the work."
The Lady Bulldogs have plenty of reason to believe they can be a factor in the playoffs after they played in a tough District 2-6A where MHS, Legacy, San Angelo Central and Wolfforth Frenship were all tied for first with three matches remaining.
The district was so competitive that all four teams had a chance to win the league title on the last day of the season.
"I think because we've worked so hard, we've really deserved it," Wilson said. "Now that we had to work on everything and like really push to get here. I think we are ready to go out there and really play and like compete. I think we have a good chance."
When/where: 5 p.m. CST Monday, Franklin High School, El Paso
This is the first playoff volleyball match under the new format where the four playoff teams from each district are split up into Class 6A Division I and Class 6A Division II by school enrollment size. MHS is the No. 1 seed out of District 2-6A in the Division I bracket, while Franklin is the No. 2 seed out of District 1-6A in the bracket. .... Midland High was the third overall seed out of District 2-6A and Franklin was the third overall seed out of District 1-6A. The two teams flipped for home venue and Franklin won. ... The Lady Bulldogs played two matches against co-District 1-6A champ El Paso Eastwood and one match against co-District 1-6A champ El Paso Eastlake but did not face Franklin even though they attended their tournament. The Lady Cougars finished third at 8-4 behind Eastwood and Eastlake. "We can't take them lightly," MHS head coach Audra Howard said of the Lady Cougars. "We always know Franklin and all El Paso teams are good teams in their own right. At the end of the day, we just have to come out and do our jobs and adjust to who we are playing to." ... Howard believes the competitive title race in District 2-6A between MHS, Legacy, San Angelo Central and Wolfforth Frenship will help her team in the postseason."I do think it prepared us," Howard said. "Playing Central, Frenship and Legacy, they're all respectfully good teams. I think playing those types of teams before playoffs prepares you more for what's to come. I think it helped us out a lot."
Next: Winner will face Keller or Mansfield Legacy, TBA in area round
Andrews (32-11, R3) vs. Amarillo West Plains (28-11, W4), 6 p.m. Monday, Lubbock-Cooper HS, Woodrow
Big Spring (6-26, R5) vs. Stephenville (22-14, W6), 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jim Ned HS, Tuscola
Forsan (26-11, W4) vs. McCamey (R3), 6 p.m. Tuesday., McGraw Event Center
Midland Christian (26-11, T1) at Austin Regents (26-6, R2), TBA, Tuesday