Editor’s note: This story was previously published in the 2024 Austin Sports Journal Volleyball Preview. This is a free preview of the type of content you get when you subscribe to the Austin Sports journal.
By Michael Adams
madams@austinsportsjournal.com
The Laney Hennessee 2024 revenge tour is sure to have its share of victims, but one is of great interest for Wimberley’s senior star – The San Antonio Davenport Wolves.
Despite Hennessee’s best efforts of a match-high 18 kills, Davenport defeated Wimberley 26-24, 25-19, 26-24 in last year’s Class 4A, Region IV championship match.
The loss left a bad taste in Hennessee and her teammates’ mouth as they watched as the Wolves went on to win the Class 4A state championship.
“It was super frustrating,” Hennessee said. “We felt we could beat them, and we didn’t. I know deep down we could have won that match.”
Davenport was the Texans’ biggest nemesis last season. The Wolves won all three matches against Wimberley, including both meetings in district play.
In February’s UIL’s redistricting, Davenport and Wimberley remained in the same district. In fact, the only change was the loss of Boerne, which moved up to Class 5A.
However, the UIL’s new playoff system will most likely prevent the two teams from meeting in the postseason.
Much like in football, the UIL will split each classification into two divisions based on the enrollment numbers. Four teams from the district will make the playoffs with the two largest schools being placed in the Division I bracket and the two smaller schools in the Division II bracket.
Davenport has the largest enrollment of the six teams in District 26-4A at 1,295. Whereas Wimberley has the third smallest at 855. For the Texans to be placed in Division I, both Bandera (702) and Navarro (694.5) would have to qualify for the playoffs.
Being the competitor she is, Hennessee said she was a bit disappointed she may not get to play Davenport in the playoffs.
“I definitely wanted to meet them again in the playoffs,” she said. “I wanted us to be the team that kicked Davenport out of the playoffs.”
Hennessee may have to settle for keeping the Wolves from repeating as district champions, which may be more important with the new playoff format.
New coach, same goals
Misty Remmers takes over as head coach for Stephanie Barthels, who stepped down in the offseason.
Remmers comes to Wimberley from Geronimo Navarro, a district rival of the Texans. Having coached against Hennessee in the past, Remmers said she’s going to be glad to be on the other side of the net.
“As an opposing coach, I was always trying to find something (Hennessee) was not good at, which was very difficult,” Remmers said. “You can only try to contain her, but how do you contain her? She’s going to score her points. She’s so athletically gifted. She works hard, does what she needs to do and is a great leader.”
Remmers is taking over a storied program that has won six state volleyball championships and made 10 appearances at the state tournament.
To say expectations are high for the 2024 Texans would be an understatement.
“We have the expectation to be the best,” Hennessee said. “We have a winning tradition here and consistently have particularly good teams. It is always our goal to be the best and beat the best.”
Remmers said she understands the expectations set for her and the team as she enters her first season as head coach.
“As a new coach, that’s the expectation that is set because it’s Wimberley,” she said. “Not only do the players and the school expect us to win, but the community also has that expectation.
“At some point, you have to set the goal (to win a state championship) and be open about that. That’s what the kids want, and that’s what the community wants.”
A muti-sport talent
Hennessee may terrorize opponents on the volleyball court in the fall, but in the winter, she often gives headaches to Wimberley’s opponents on the basketball court.
“I started playing sports at a young age, and played all of them,” Hennessee said. “I started playing volleyball in a recreational league in Dripping Springs. That’s when I fell in love with the sport.”
Name the sport and Hennessee has likely played it at some point in her life. After all, would you expect anything less from someone with a highly competitive drive?
While she is also a standout for the Texans girls basketball team, volleyball is her first true love.
“It’s the adrenaline after a point that I love,” she said. “I like to score. Sure, you score in basketball, but the adreneline isn’t the same as it is in volleyball.”
The gifted four-year starter will have a target on her back this season from opposing teams, but her coach said it’s going to be a difficult target to hit.
“Laney has such a high ceiling and knows teams are out to stop her,” Remmers said. “That competitive side of her is going to make her step up her game.”
Roll Tide
After she takes care of her unfinished business at Wimberley, Hennessee will join the volleyball team at the University of Alabama.
She gave her verbal commitment before her junior season began, saying she’s thankful to have the recruiting process out of the way.
“Recruiting is stressful, everyone stresses about where they are going to go and where they are going to visit,” she said. “I don’t have to worry about that and can concentrate on winning a state championship.”
Alabama wasn’t on her radar. Hennessee said she was getting interest from several schools, including UNLV, Liberty University, Texas State and UTSA.
An Alabama coach attended an AAU tournament in Florida last summer that Hennessee was playing in.
She said they reached out to her after the tournament, and it just felt like a natural fit.
“Alabama is a huge school,” she said. “I liked the idea of getting my commitment in early, I loved the coaches and felt it was a good opportunity for me and my family.”
Before she puts on crimson and white, Hennessee has one goal left to accomplish.
“Win state,” she said. “We have the team, good chemistry and all the potential. I want a state title. Thats my goal.”