With just four varsity returners, 2026 had the potential to be a rebuilding season for W.T. White’s volleyball team.
Instead, the Longhorns have seen their chemistry increase exponentially as the team gains more experience. So much so that WTW sits at 6-2 as the District 13-5A season nears the halfway mark.
“The girls have been playing very well,” said Lakita Dockery, WTW head coach. “We have some tight games and entertaining games and for having such a young team, the girls have done great.”
WTW lost nine seniors from a squad that qualified for the playoffs a year ago but lost in the bi-district round to North Mesquite.
With this season’s early strides, Dockery and WTW are not only hopeful for a playoff return, but to advance to the area round for the first time.
“The goal is always to make the playoffs,” Dockery said. “But we really want to be that first W.T. White team to win a bi-district match. With the chemistry and growth we’ve shown, we feel like that opportunity is within our grasp. We just need to finish strong and then show what we can do against the Mesquite teams and then the Austin teams after that.”
While WTW has a lot of new faces populating the roster, it has benefited from veteran presences in senior outside hitter Madison Hill and senior setter Micah Mowles.
Hill, a six-rotation player, is not only one of WTW’s top hitters, but one of its top defensive players.
“She’s a player that is just a joy to watch play,” Dockery said. “She’s one of the best hitters in Dallas ISD. She has over 1,000 kills for us and is on her way to 2,000.”
Dockery added that Hill is still weighing possible collegiate options, but possesses the ability to compete in Division I if that’s the path she chooses.
Mowles, meanwhile, also plays six rotations and can slot in as a right-side swinger when not setting.
“She’s just an amazing athlete,” Dockery said. “She’s been a setter for us, and last year we used her as a middle blocker, and now she’s back to setting and playing on the right side. Outside of her athleticism, Micah just has amazing hands. She’s just grown so much since her freshman year.”
Like Hill, Mowles also has the possibility of playing collegiately. The bigger question may be in which sport.
“She plays varsity in four sports,” Dockery said. “She’s play somewhere and play something, but she hasn’t made that decision yet.”
While Hill and Mowles provide a veteran presence, a pair of freshmen have also made an instant impact.
Keira Rodriguez has been a revelation as a defensive specialist in her debut season, while Eva Arriola has been a top offensive option at outside hitter.
Junior Tionna Ibeh, meanwhile, is in her second varsity season at middle blocker.
“She’s been great in the middle for us and is big on the block and with her power,” Dockery said. “She’s another player that can do a lot of different things for us. All of our players have the ability to play anywhere on the court, which is a big advantage for us. Our rotations really depend on our opponent and what they’re good at and how we can try and combat that.”
WTW next’s chance to show its improvement comes at 6:30 p.m. Friday at South Oak Cliff.
The Longhorns defeated the Lady Bears, 3-0, in the first half of 13-5A action.
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