The Lady Eagles volleyball team developed into one of the top in the state of Texas under head coach Clark Oberle. However, Oberle left to take the girls athletic director position at Decatur, where he is also the volleyball coach. Megan DeGroot took over the job in Oberle’s place with a young but talented team behind her. Coach DeGroot comes over after being an assistant at Southlake Carroll.

“[There have been] a lot of ups and downs,” Degroot said. “Everything I could have possibly imagined and more. I’m blessed to be here at Argyle. I have hard-working athletes. I have parents who are very supportive. I have co-workers who love what they do and love the kids just as must as I do. I couldn’t ask for a better year in that aspect.”

The Eagles lost four key players as Allison White (Texas Tech), Haylee Van Poppel (Belmont), Brittany Hamilton (Arkansas Monticello) ,and Maddie Deguire (Lubbock Christian) have all moved on to the college ranks. The team returns starters Danielle Davis(5), Sophie Betzhold(11), and Paxton McGlinch(1) as the main returning starters from last years’ state finalist teams. Seniors Danielle Davis and Sophie Betzhold finally get to lead the team after a couple years as key players and are now the stars of the team.

“I’ve learned that everyone takes criticism and pushes themselves differently,” Davis said. “You have to take each person at a different angle and try to boost them up and fire them up— you know whatever they need— just to always try to make the right decisions, and if something goes wrong, just take the blame. Try to be a leader and lead through your actions.”

The team holds a 21-18 record through a tough schedule featuring mostly 5A and 6A teams. So far against 4A teams the Lady Eagles are 13-5. Their biggest win was a sweep of rival Decatur 3-0 over former head coach Clark Oberle. Davis led the way with ten kills and junior Alyssa Wallace led the team with 21 digs, while sophomore Kassidy Reeves had 32 assists to lead the Eagle attack. On senior night, the Eagles knocked off district foe Sanger 3-1 led by Betzhold and Davis. The Eagles are now tied with Decatur for second place in the district and heading to the playoffs. Coach DeGroot tries to keep the team focused on one game at a time during playoffs.

“It’s hard as a coach, and I’m sure it’s hard as a player to not want to think long term,” DeGroot said. “But for me it’s getting through the first playoff game and then worrying about the second and third, etc. Right now I can only focus on the first game.”

The Eagles are going to be a force to be reckoned with during the playoffs. Despite playing in a very tough district, the Eagles are gaining valuable experience for a potential long playoff run. With multiple players with multiple state championship appearances and a ton of young talent, they are going to be a dark horse in this year’s playoffs. 

“I wouldn’t say it’s a rebuilding year,” Degroot said. “I would say that it is a changing of the dynamics; a changing of the program. So for some people, that may feel as if it’s rebuilding, but for me, it is simply changing how things have been done in the past.” 

The Eagles next opponent is Dallas Carter at Loos Stadium in Dallas on Monday at 7:00 in a bi-district match.