Tradition held serve so to speak at midnight on Monday as Marcus’ volleyball team opened its 2007 season with its traditional “Midnight Run.”

Forty eight players and well over 100 family, friends and fans were on hand at the Marcus track for a tradition that dates back at least 10 years, according to Marcus volleyball coach Cristie Liles.

The Lady Marauders have plenty of reason to be excited after winning the District 6-5A crown and breaking a one-year playoff drought. Marcus finished district play 12-2 and ended the season with a record of record of 24-15 after reaching the area round of the playoffs.

“They are excited about getting starting and working hard,” Liles said. “They want to repeat what they did in district last year and go further than they did in the playoffs.”

Liles said the “Midnight Run” which includes a mile run for everyone, and a quarter mile run and sprints for the upperclassmen went well. Many upper classmen made their mile times on Monday night. Things wrapped up on Monday about 2 a.m.

“It’s definitely a great way to start out season,” Liles said of the “Midnight Run.” “It’s a real boost for the girls, having all their friends and family out supporting them.” Practices began later on Monday with 13 varsity players and 48 junior varsity and freshmen players. Liles estimated she will have to cut around 10 players to get down to the right size for each roster.

Friday another tradition will take place as the varsity will scrimmage former players in the annual alumni game at 7 p.m. at Marcus. Liles said she expects around 10 to 12 former players to show up for the gamem, but at times the numbers have been greater and lesser other times.

“You just never know how many are going to show up,” Liles said. “We’ve had some people call and say they will be here, but you never know.”

Marcus will scrimmage at 9 a.m. Saturday morning at Flower Mound against the Lady Jaguars, Grapevine and Mesquite Horn. The Lady Marauders open the regular season at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Arlington High. They will return to Arlington High on Aug. 16 to play Amarillo and open play at the Duncanville Tournament on Aug. 17.

Lady Jaguars hit the ground running

Like Marcus, Flower Mound broke a playoff drought last year as the Lady Jaguars made their first playoff appearance in four years under the direction of first-year coach Marci Brinkman.

Brinkman and her Lady Jaguars opened the 2007 season on Monday in a little more comfortable position than a year ago when she took over for Carrie Slechta.

The Lady Jaguars posted a 7-7 record in District 6-5A play and finished with a record of 14-20 after losing to Southlake Carroll in the first round. That experience is driving not only the nine returning players but the entire program, Brinkman said.

“You could see the excitement and hunger on Monday,” she said. “They are ready to go out and prove themselves again this season. One thing that is really exciting is the amount of leadership I’m seeing all through the program.”

Brinkman expects to carry 12 or 13 players on the varsity roster. She has 35 upperclassmen and 38 freshmen out for practice.

Drills are going smoothly because the coaches know what to expect from the players and the players understand what is expected from them. A year ago, both players and coaches were going through the learning process but things are much easier this time around.

“When any new coach steps into the program everyone has to adjust and be flexible,” Brinkman said. “Now they know what we expect and want. The girls on the varsity know each others and that chemistry helps. I think our varsity is going to hit the ground running.”

Flower Mound will scrimmage at Denton Guyer at 7 p.m. on Friday then hosts a scrimmage against Marcus, Grapevine and Mesquite Horn at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

The Lady Jaguars open the regular season at 7 p.m. on Tuesday hosting Justin Northwest. Flower Mound begins play at the Denton Ryan Kickoff Classic on Aug. 16.