After advancing to the championship match of the Region

V tournament in 2011, the North Central Texas College Lady Lions

volleyball team will look to reload in 2012 with 10 talented freshmen.

The new players were on the NCTC campus Wednesday for orientation and

to register for classes. The group comes from all over Texas and each

one brings a wealth of experience and accomplishments.

Two of the players didn’t have far to travel. Twin sisters MacKenzie

and Karley Rohrbough will come to NCTC from Callisburg High School,

just 10 minutes away from Gainesville.

Karley, a 6-foot middle blocker, was named All-State in 2011. She was

also named District Most Valuable Player.

MacKenize, a 5-11 outside hitter, was named DistrictNewcomer of the

Year in volleyball her sophomore year and was also Newcomer of the

Year in softball her freshman season.

The rest of the incoming freshman class comes from farther away, but

all bring the same level of high school accomplishments.

Lauren Cude, a 5-10 setter from Longview, was both avolleyball and

soccer standout at Pine Tree High School. In volleyball, Cude was the

2011 All-District top setter, All East Texas top setter, third

teamAll-State and was also named Academic All-District. In soccer, she

was first team All-District in 2012 and second team All East Texas.

She was selected to the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches All-Star

senior showcase and was Academic All-District. She was also a Globe

Scholar and was voted Class Clown.

Jenna Jackson, a 5-3 defensive specialist from Crosby, played at Goose

Creek Memorial High School. She was named Offensive Player of the

Year, first team All-District and Academic All-District. She was named

as one of the AAU Best Athletes and was selected to the Texas Girls

Coaches Association All-Star Game.

Brittney Anson, a 5-10 middle blocker from Houston, attended Langham

Creek High School. She was a second team All-District selection.

Haylee Diehl, a 5-9 setter from Nocona, led her team to the UIL Class

2A State Tournament. She was named first team All-State, District

Co-MVP, Co-Offensive MVP and was selected to the Texas Girls Coaches

Association All-Star game. She also qualified for regionals in tennis.

Kaitlynn Henson, a 5-9 outside hitter from Orange, attended

Orangefield High School. In 2011 she was named the District 21-3A

Outstanding Outside Hitter, senior captain and UIL Academic All-State.

In 2010 she was first team All-District. In 2009 she was the

district’s Co-Outstanding Outside Hitter and as a freshman in 2008 she

was a second team All-Districtpick.

Lauren DeAnda, a 5-10 outside hitter from Round Rock, attended Stony

Point High School. She was the Offensive Player of the Year in 2011, a

District 16-5A honorable mention selection, and set a school record

for kills in a season with 407. In 2010, her team won a district

championship and she was named Academic All-District. She was voted

Best Smile by her classmates.

Anissa Smith, a 6-0 middle blocker from Round Rock, attended Round

Rock High School. She was stellar both on the court and in the

classroom. She was named Academic All-District all four years of high

school.

Harlee Johnson, a 5-7 outside hitter from Gunter, was named

All-Texomaland the past three seasons. In 2011, she was the District

Offensive MVP, Academic All-State, honorable mention All-State by the

TexasSports Writers Association, and Academic All-State. In 2010 she

was the District Defensive MVP, Academic All-District and All-State.

In 2009, she was the District Offensive MVP.

NCTC head volleyball coach Angie Bullard is expecting big things from

the newest Lady Lions.

“I’m looking forward to having this group of freshmen,” Bullard said.

“I think we have girls with quite a bit of volleyball experience

coming in to fill some very important positions left open after losing

a big group of sophomores. Most of these girls are coming from

successful high school and club teams.”