We continue our countdown of the 2015 Preseason Top 25 Volleyball Rankings, presented by Asics, with No. 2, Churchill.
Be sure to
check out the previous teams, and come back as we continue to release the top volleyball teams in the country entering the 2015 season.
Head coach Jo Anne Hultgren (far right) poses for group shot with her team for the 2015 season. Hultgren has posted a 333-100 record in her 10 seasons at Churchill.
Photos by Jim Redman
6A (state's largest)
2014 Finish: 39-9 (lost, 3-2, in state semifinals to eventual state champion The Woodlands)
Head coach: Jo Anne Hultgren
Hultgren has a 333-100 record at Churchill in 10 seasons and is 634-289 in 25 seasons as a varsity coach.
Key Returnee: Abby Buckingham: The 6-1 senior outside hitter is back after missing the 2014 season with injury. She led Churchill to a 47-3 season, ending with state title loss to The Woodlands in 2013 when the future Texas Longhorn had 780 kills (5.4), 462 digs (3.2) and served 91 percent en route to All-American honors.
Other Returnees: 6-0 sophomore
Cate Buckingham (Abby's sister), 6-1 senior
Yasmine Ataee,
Hannah Lopez,
Sommer Gonzales and 6-1
Bryncaitlin Walker. Buckingham, Ataee and Lopez were all second team picks on the District 25-6A team.
Key Losses: Karley York (North Texas) and Ashleigh Dominquez (North Dakota).
2015 Outlook: With Abby Buckingham healthy, optimism is extremely high. Some consider her the best hitter either side of the Mississippi. She'll team with Ataee, Walker and Lopez to give the Chargers a surplus of hitters. If Churchill gets the performance it is expecting from setters Casey Volz and Ashlyn Teis, a repeat of 39 wins might seem underachieving.
2015 Toughest Opponent: Reagan (San Antonio) beat Churchill twice a year ago and returns super sophomore Elissa Barbosa and setter Victoria Hinojosa (10.8 assists).
Notable: Hultgren has coached two 40-win seasons (47 in 2013 and 40 in 2008).
View entire Churchill preseason photo shoot galleryCoach's Comment: What coach Hultgren says about Abby Buckingham: "It would be really easy for Abby to be a prima donna, but never have I seen anything like that. She's humble, she loves her teammates, she gives credit to other people — she's just a class act for a young kid."
