The Canton Eaglettes enjoyed a solid season on the court during the 2021 season, finishing third overall in a competitive district after a series of tiebreakers before getting edged out of the playoffs by the Caddo Mills Lady Foxes in a five-set heartbreaker.

With a new season set to start Aug. 9, Canton’s senior core is ready to build on last year’s highs while also using the early playoff exit as fuel for even greater success in 2022.

Looking back outside hitter Emma Welty summed up the feelings of many of her teammates stating, “I thought we played well together as a team, but we fell short in the playoffs. I don’t think that we played our best against Caddo Mills. We had that three-way tiebreaker at the end of the year, and we all pushed really hard for that.”

Maddie Wilson agreed adding, “We feel like we could have gone farther into the playoffs than we did. We just had some moments where we would get down and it would just change the whole dynamic of the game. We feel like we were better than that.”

The growing pains were not entirely unexpected, with several Canton players getting their first taste of varsity action.

Airianna Pickens noted that there were some nerves associated with a season of firsts, while Morgan Dunn added, “I think we grew from that experience, and we will work better as a team because of it.”

Early returns have been positive, with Canton’s senior core seeing growth over the course of summer league play and into the opening week of workouts.

“I’m happy with where we are at considering we just started. I think we can get a lot better. We really feel like it is going to be a big season,” said Wilson.

“We got more cohesive as the summer went along,” added Welty. “I think our communication is a lot better than last year. It’s the same with our energy level. We all work together so well.”

A big theme of the summer league season and workouts has been versatility, with players playing multiple roles both at the net and in the back row.

“We have more girls that can play any position on the court,” said Krawietz. “Last year we had girls that were more specialists.”

The redistricting shuffle moved Canton to District 16-4A alongside familiar foes Athens, Brownsboro, Mabank and Van, while also mixing in newcomers Cumberland Academy and Lindale.

Looking ahead at how the season might play out, Eaglette players were excited about the challenge facing them.

Said Pickens, “I feel like we can actually go farther than we did last year. Our biggest opponents will probably be Lindale or Brownsboro.”

Emma Welty added, “I think that things look good for us this year. Everyone has lost some people, but coming back this year, we look like one of the stronger teams. Our team’s work ethic is one of the reasons that we feel like we can win a district title and advance in the playoffs.”