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The Lady Wildcats varsity volleyball team is riding a nine-game win streak in a turnaround year, already surpassing last season’s total sets won.
Elgin has accumulated 45 sets won so far in the 2026-27 season. This success is a stark change from last year, when the team finished sixth in district with 23 sets and a 7-27 overall record.
Second-year head coach Hope Pawlik said the early going required patience as players adjusted to her approach.
“Coming in as a new coach, it takes a while for girls to trust you and to buy in,” Pawlik said. “My style of coaching is significantly different than a lot of other coaches, so for them, understanding the new systems that we were going to place took a little bit.”
Once last season concluded, Pawlik did not waste any time changing the way the team looked and operated. Players took on tougher practices, increased conditioning and one-onone training to address details often overlooked like hip and setting mobility, according to Pawlik.
The varsity and freshman teams now participate in Friday conditioning sessions, elevated volleyball IQ instruction and a weekly leadership class focused on discipline on and off the court.
“We continue to say that we need to be comfortable being uncomfortable,” Pawlik said. “We don’t rely on external factors off the court, only the ones we can control and are in front of us on the court … It was tough and I plan to keep increasing the expectations.”
The coach added she also used the offseason to overhaul the program’s culture and vision, implementing themed days, weekly individual player spotlights and stronger relationships with nearby middle school and club programs.
“I wanted the environment to be a place where they feel like players can come and we will continue to grow them,” Pawlik said. “I’m a big believer in vertical alignment. It’s important to us the middle schools and club teams know our name and systems there too, so our relationship starts even sooner.”
The Lady Cats fell to fourth-ranked Hendrickson in straight sets (2522, 25-13, 25-16) in their second district match Sept. 11. They now sit seventh in district standings.
Elgin traveled to face Pflugerville Connally after press time Sept. 15.
