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  • Gainesville's Ariannah Kemp goes up for a kill during the Cooke County Classic on Thursday. Heather Holt

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August 16, 2012

VOLLEYBALL: Gainesville wins pool, remains undefeated at Cooke County Classic

By Keith MacPherson, Register Sports Editor Gainesville Daily Register

GAINESVILLE —

Gainesville may be undefeated but Lady Leopard coach Laura Mehl still sees plenty of room for improvement.

The Lady Leopards began the Cooke County Classic with a bang, winning three games to clinch its pool on Thursday.

With wins over Selwyn, Tom Bean and Whitewright, Gainesville (5-0) earned a top seed going into the championship bracket but, more importantly, Mehl has seen constant improvement in her squad.

“We’ve played pretty well,” said the first-year Gainesville coach. “I’ve been very impressed with the team. We keep getting better and that’s what I’ve wanted to see. I’m looking forward to the rest of the tournament and the season.”

Gainesville finished the first day at the Cooke County Classic without dropping a set. The Lady Leopards topped Selwyn 25-8, 25-5; defeated Tom Bean 25-19, 25-18; and dismissed Whitewright 26-24, 25-16.

The Lady Leopards will begin the championship bracket at 8 a.m. Saturday at Gainesville High School.

While the Lady Leopards have enjoyed early success in the season, it hasn’t come easily. Mehl was hired a little more than two weeks ago and the team has spent countless hours practicing to learn a new system under a new coach.

“It’s different this year for all of us,” Mehl said. “We only have one returning coach - the rest of us is all new. We’re all adjusting well and coming together well. Our kids have been outstanding. I’m really happy with everything. I feel like this season can be pretty succesful if we continue on our current path.”

Some early standouts for the Lady Leopards are junior outside hitters Ariannah Kemp and Whytneigh Duffie, Mehl said. She also acknowledged that the entire team has played a role in the early success and has been real impressed by everybody’s play.

They Lady Leopards will play a Gunter at 6:30 p.m. tonight in a non-district game sandwiched between the Cooke County Classic.

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