SMHS VOLLEYBALL
It’s a new era for the Rattlers as former Texas State setter Ryann Torres takes over the program as the new head coach.
Coming off a 16-18 season last year and finishing fifth in district play, the Rattlers and Torres are looking to have a bounce back year while also rebuilding and getting to know one another.
“They were a really fun team,” Torres said. “As fall camp went on, they got more comfortable with my coaching style. They were just trying to figure me out, and one thing that I really do appreciate coming in is that they were very receptive and welcoming to me. Just with that in itself is just a huge characteristic of a person that I have on the entire varsity team that you really just can’t beat.”
An element Torres wants to bring to the Rattlers is being a defensive first team.
A trait similar to when she played with the Bobcats, Torres believes being disciplined on defense will help the Rattlers in the always tough District 29 featuring several volleyball powerhouses in the San Antonio area.
“I want to be a defensive [first] team,” Torres said. “We are going to have to be a defensive team with this district that we’re going to be playing in. Once we get our little puzzle pieces together with our defensive system, we will upset and outwork teams with how disciplined our defense will be. I can feel it, vision it, and it’s gonna happen.”
Though the Rattlers are in the early stages of the 2025 season with the team set to play in the Corpus Christi Spikefest Tournament this weekend, Torres and her staff are looking for the team to believe in them and continue to improve day by day.
“Just them trusting the process,” Torres said. “It’s not all about the 10 foot kill and being a big 6 ‘1 athlete; It’s all about being united and coming together as a team. That’s what I’m trying to teach them — Community, team cohesion — and that’s what I want to see coming out of this tournament. I’m not looking for wins, [but] I’m not looking for losses for sure. But as long as we see progression throughout the first and second day, I will be happy.”
The Rattlers will return home Tuesday Aug. 26 against Austin Eastside Memorial.
San Marcos enters the season with a new head coach as former Texas State setter Ryann Torres takes over the program. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
The Rattlers will look to craft a defensive first mindset before entering district play. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
