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Lady Cats trying to reload

Junior Sydney Romero has been on the Clovis High varsity volleyball team since she was a freshman.

CMI staff: Kevin WilsonClovis forward Sasha Smith-Pollard taps the ball over the net during a scrimmage against Fort Sumner Saturday morning at Rock Staubus Gym.

She was one of a number of talented front-row players for the Lady Wildcats last fall. Now she knows she'll have to step to the fore after the Lady Wildcats graduated several top players from last year's 15-9 Class 5A state semifinal squad.

"We lost seven seniors, but we've got a lot of good sophomores coming up," said Romero, a 6-foot middle blocker. "It'll be good for the team for next year."

Romero doesn't plan to be on the team next season — she's hoping to graduate early next spring and begin a college career, which she hopes also includes volleyball.

CMI photo: Kevin WilsonFort Sumner junior Angelica Torres, right, tries to get a ball by the block attempt from Clovis High junior Sydney Romero during a scrimmage on Saturday morning at Rock Staubus Gym. The Lady Wildcats, who hosted a day-long event, open their 2012 schedule at home on Tuedsay night against Amarillo Palo Duro.

Before she leaves, though, she'd also like to make amends after missing last year's state quarterfinal loss to Rio Rancho due to food poisoning.

"That was unfortunate, but I'm just hoping we can make it this year again," she said. "We've got a lot of talent coming up."

Third-year Lady Cats coach Gabe Apodaca agrees.

"We've got a lot of new faces, but a lot of good talent," he said as the team prepares for Tuesday's season opener against Amarillo Palo Duro at Rock Staubus Gym. "The sophomore class has a lot of size, and those are some kids who are going to have to get some varsity time this year."

Romero will be a big part of anything the Lady Cats do, he added.

"Sydney has to be a big part of our offense this year," Apodaca said. "She has to be a leader, and hopefully she'll be leading by example."

Other regulars back for the Lady Cats are junior libero Andrea Aguilar and junior outside hitter Kyleigh Guthals. Apodaca said Guthals will move from the right side to the left this season.

"It's a different system on that side, but we've played her there all summer long," he said. "I think her athleticism will allow her to (make the change)."

Apodaca said the young players moving in had a good summer program with the Lady Cats, and that should help the transition.

"We'll run a fast tempo," he said. "We're not big enough to just match up and hit over people."

Romero said the team has the fire to do well.

"We just have to get in the gym every day and work hard," Romero said. "Coach Apo's motto is 'strive for perfection,' and we just have to work our tails off.

"The talent's there. We just have to get on the floor."

SCHDULE

August: 28 — Amarillo Palo Duro, 6:45 p.m.; 31 — Clovis Invitational.

September: 1 — Clovis Invitational; 6 — Lubbock Christian, 6:45 p.m.; 11 — at Portales, 6:45 p.m.; 14-15 — Zia Classic at Roswell; 25 — at Tatum, 5:30 p.m.; 27 — at Roswell Goddard, 6:45 p.m.

October: 4 — at Roswell High, 6:45 p.m.; 5-6 — at Portales tournament; 11 — Roswell High, 6:45 p.m.; 16 — Hobbs, 6:45 p.m.-x; 23 — at Carlsbad, 6:45 p.m.-x; 25 — Portales, 6:45 p.m.; 30 — at Hobbs, 6:45 p.m.-x.

November: 3 — Carlsbad, 2:30 p.m.-x.

x-Denotes District 4-5A match.