Another year rolls around in Dallas Parochial League Volleyball action. The league grew to a record 92 teams last season, and could be up again in 2003. The improvement of the general depth and skill of players and teams in the league was never more evident than in 2002. The sixth seeded STA Wildcats claimed the crown with a dominating play-off performance, proving that any team making the play-offs is now capable of running the table in this extremely talented league.. While team registration is still in process, here’s this year’s pre-view of the top division, Varsity D1.

The defending champion Wildcats will again be a major factor in this year’s race. Having lost only two 8th graders from last year’s squad, STA has plenty of experienced players that know how to get the job done. The Wildcats will have their 3rd coach in 3 years, but that should not be of any concern as this school has built a dynamite program from nothing in a few short years.
You must always look to the northern horizon, a.k.a. Plano, when looking for some of the top teams in this division. For years, St Mark and POP traded titles in this division, but it’s been three years since either has claimed the top prize. Prince of Peace will bring a solid team to the fray again while the Lions will be boasting two teams in division 1. Don’t be surprised if the younger group of kitties doesn’t surprise everyone, having won it all as 5th graders and 6th graders the last two seasons.
The Bearcats of St Monica, semi-finalists from 2002, will again be a factor in 2003 sporting a talented roster and veteran coach. This program is on the move, so much so, that a second gym has been built to handle the volume. Just down the road, the CKS Crusaders will make the jump up to D1 after being crowned D2 champs last season. The CKS volleyball program, like STA’s has come out of nowhere to establish itself as an annual contender in the DPL.
The Mustangs of M.I.S. have their largest volleyball turnout in years, and could jump into the mix. To the East, St Patrick and St Bernard have been perennial play-off participants, and both will hope to keep their streaks alive under new coaches this fall. Further east, the SPX Tigers plan to get some all-sports points in volleyball to help in their quest for the all around title, as football, cheer, and drill are always mainstays.
In the end, the DPL crew of pre-season pundits could not come to any agreement as to who would climb the volleyball ladder in November. When the crystal ball fog cleared, a feline character emerged…but could not be identified…..could it be that mythical figure…..The Bearcat?