By Jack Walker

Staff Writer

After her late summer marriage, Howe volleyball coach Debbie Venteicher goes by a new name but still brings that same enthusiasm to her job as coach of the Lady Bulldogs as she begins her second season.

Venteicher and assistant coaches Derek Lands and Shawn Martin greeted almost 50 girls to the first practice of the 2010 season on Monday morning. Breaking out into three groups, the staff had the players working on conditioning in the weight room and running the steps of the gym. Others worked on court fundaments as they eagerly began the new season. Coach Venteicher has always stressed physical play for her teams and the players quickly learned that there was no change in that approach.

The Lady Bulldogs had a disappointing season last year, missing the playoffs, and they are looking forward to competing in the new district that the University Interscholastic League has laid out for the school. Callisburg, Pottsboro and S&S will replace Melissa and Leonard on the Lady Bulldogs schedule and it will be a tough league indeed.

Howe will kick off the season with a scrimmage on Friday with teams from Aubrey and Van Alstyne and they open the regular season on August 10 when they host Pilot Point.