It started as so many tales in sports do, with a buzz that easily could be too-good-to-be true. The hype usually comes with a proclamation about how a certain athlete is so gifted and talented, or will lead a team to great heights, that it seems, well, too good to be true.

A year ago, New Braunfels Canyon freshman setter Megan Hawkins arrived with plenty of expectations. They were magnified by the fact that she was playing an essential role on a volleyball team that carried the loftiest of aspirations.

“It’s intimidating,” Hawkins said of being the youngest player on a team with plenty of upperclassmen.

One would have been hard-pressed to notice any apprehension from Hawkins. Teaming with senior Erin Jones, Hawkins helped form a potent duo that paved the Cougarettes within one win of advancing to the UIL Class 5A state tournament. Jones graduated after a stellar four-year career and Hawkins had the setting duties to herself. Canyon didn’t skip a beat.

The Cougarettes (43-8) play Grapevine (21-17) at 1 p.m. Friday in the Class 5A state semifinals at the Culwell Center in Garland. It is their 12th appearance at state and first since 2015.

“I didn’t realize how hard it hit me, the fact of us going to state,” Canyon outside hitter McKenzie Woitena said. “I’m a senior. This is my last year playing. And whenever I finally realized (we made it to state), I was almost brought to tears. It’s such a crazy feeling. It’s an uplifting moment.”

Hawkins has been instrumental in the Cougarettes being on their sport’s biggest stage. She has 1,368 assists and has orchestrated an attack that has a .266 hitting percentage. Senior outside hitter Kyla Malone, who is signed with Incarnate Word and last week was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America third team, has a team-best 580 kills. Woitena is next with 327, followed by junior middle blocker Courtney Pope (260), junior outside hitter Maya Jones (211), junior outside hitter Danielle Classy (191) and senior middle blocker Haley Therien (101).

“I think she’s matured a lot since last year,” said Woitena, who has known and played at the same club program as Hawkins for nearly a decade. “I feel like she is more comfortable on the court. She is so determined. She might be one of the hard-working people on our team. She’s just an amazing player. I’m sad this is my last year playing with her, because I feel like we have a great connection.”

The chemistry fostered once Hawkins built a rapport with her hitters.

“I think that coming in as freshman, people did have high expectations for me to take over this sophomore year when Erin left,” Hawkins said. “But I had a great coach and a great team behind me, so learning new things my freshman year gave me the ability to be where I am my sophomore year.”

Erin Jones, for one, isn’t surprised by Hawkins’ performance this season. She said after Hawkins got past the nerves that comes with a first varsity season, her successor took her game to another level during the second half of District 26-5A play and the postseason in 2020.

“She was really quiet (at first) and I definitely knew how she felt, as she was like in the same role as me when I was a freshman,” Jones said. “I definitely wanted to take her under my wing and make her feel comfortable. She was really good for coming in and being her age. I didn’t know she was a freshman. She’s a great player.”

Hawkins now leads the Cougarettes into the state semifinal vs. Grapevine, which is making its second straight appearance to this round. Led by 6-foot-2 Janet deMarrais, a Missouri signee with 407 kills despite missing the first half of district play with an ankle injury, the Mustangs have found their groove lately. They knocked off 10-time state champion Amarillo High in the regional semifinals and Canyon Randall, another frequent state-tournament qualifier to capture the Region IV-5A championship.

“I do feel more comfortable, but I think being more comfortable on the team does come with time,” Hawkins said. “Coach (Heather) Sanders has always told me to don’t be scared. If you want to run something, call it. The hitters are there to listen to you. Her backing me up under anything I wanted to do also gave me confident.”

terrence@terrencesports.com
Twitter: @sa_terrence1