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The Lady Wildcats varsity volleyball team got its first taste of competition this past weekend, hosting Smithville, Atkins and Crockett before returning to the court for an alumni game.
Elgin head coach Hope Pawlik said the matches Aug. 7-8 gave her a chance to evaluate the team. She was able to get everyone on the roster valuable playing time and assess potential starting lineups.
“We looked incredible as far as our playing abilities and our culture and our cohesiveness as a unit,” Pawlik said. “Last year versus Atkins, we were still piecing together the team and starters.”
According to Pawlik, Elgin’s ability to move players around the court while maintaining the team’s level of play was one of the biggest positives she took away from the weekend.
“No matter what position they played or where they went — moving from the scrimmages into the games is pretty exciting, to see what it looks like at a more competitive level, as it is a bit more structured,” she said.
The Lady Cats are also entering the season with a better understanding of Pawlik’s system after spending a full season learning what she expects of them.
That familiarity has allowed Elgin to move at a quicker pace during the offseason.
“This year we have gotten to go at a faster pace … we have gotten a lot more done,” Pawlik said. “Our evaluations are a bit more thorough this year, and then we got to see leadership from the older kids at an earlier stage — they knew what they needed to do with helping the younger kids coming in.”
That experience could prove particularly important for a Lady Cats roster featuring eight seniors.
Pawlik said the older players have already begun taking on a larger role in helping establish the team’s culture and bringing along younger teammates.
Elgin also benefited from an expanded program this offseason. For the first time, the Lady Cats were able to host the summer league, allowing Elgin players and athletes from surrounding schools to participate without having to pay a fee.
“Summer league is just an opportunity for our kids to get ball touches,” Pawlik said. “We were able to get six schools out there and we got a lot more experience.”
The increased participation gave Elgin athletes more opportunities for play, helping boost player count, according to Pawlik.
“Our numbers went from 15 to 20 kids, to 30 to 45,” she said.
Another major development has been the creation of the Elgin Thunderbirds, the community’s first club volleyball program. Pawlik said the new venture provides current and future Elgin Independent School District athletes with another opportunity to develop their skills beyond the high school season.
The district has supported the program by making its gym facilities available.
With the additional summer competition, a deeper roster and a better understanding of the system, Pawlik said she believes the Lady Cats are in a good position heading into the 2026 season.
“I’m excited to see our growth, and not just our culture, but our playing abilities,” she said. “I think with having the opportunity for a faster pace and more skill-building techniques, we are going to continue to improve. I am excited to see (the seniors) take on a leadership role.”
The Lady Wildcats are coming off a 2-10 district record last season. They opened the regular season against Smithville after press time Aug. 11 and will travel to Killeen to join the Cen-Tex Queens of the Court Tournament over the weekend.
