Reset, Rolling and Ranked: Lady Hornets fill void at setter, continue winning ways in 2020

Junior Kylee Graves sets the ball on Aug. 25. Photo by Rich Hilliard

Fannin County Leader

DODD CITY -- What do you do when graduation has taken away a two-year starter at setter?

Find a replacement or two amongst your otherwise intact team -- keep winning as usual.

Senior Dani Baccus and junior Kylee Graves have taken on the role of setter this season for Dodd City, which entered the Class 1A-2A Texas Girls Coaches Association poll on Aug. 24 in a tie for No. 10 with 2A D'Hanis.

Baccus equates one of two returning 2019 all-district superlative winners -- she garnered the defensive honor last season -- for the 1A Lady Hornets who won 12-2A the last two seasons en route to the regional quarterfinals.

Senior Journie Hilliard -- a 1A TGCA all-state selection -- represents the other 2019 superlative winner, having won the 12-2A most valuable player award.

All-district second-team selections Tori Dotson and Ali Preas, both juniors, and honorable mentions Rion Baccus, a sophomore, and Graves additionally return for Dodd City, which has made the playoffs 25 times during the last 30 years.

Freshman Addyson Chaney has also joined the varsity squad for the Lady Hornets, who in September will start play in the new 16-2A -- and, as again one of only two 1A teams in their district, are assured of another postseason trip.

Note:The rest of 16-2A includes: Collinsville, varsity-newcomer Sam Rayburn, Tioga, Tom Bean, Trenton, Wolfe City and Savoy (1A).