Before the season started, Denton players sat in front of their coach and told her a number of goals for the year.

To improve was one. To have fun was two. To make the playoffs was another.

DRC/David Minton

Denton junior Mariah Hunter, right, tries to block a ball hit by Ryan’s Halee Clark on Tuesday.

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But there was also one goal Denton head coach Heather Stewart remembers she was most impressed about.

“For the first time I had a group of kids tell me that they wanted to be role models for the school,” she said. “That is what this team is all about. They have great character. They want to represent Denton High. They want to show the other programs at the school that Denton is still on the map and that Denton can still make the playoffs.”

The Lady Broncos (17-21)have a chance to do just that when they face Wichita Falls at 6:30 p.m. Friday at a site yet to be determined in a play-in match to determine who gets the fourth and final playoff spot out of District 5-4A.

Both teams finished tied with 6-8 league records to get to this point.

Wichita Falls won the first meeting between the two teams in September and Denton chalked up the win in its last meeting on Oct. 20 in a five-set thriller.

Stewart is confident her team can come out on top again.

“The girls know they can beat this team,” she said. “We have to be truly invested to win this match. It is in our hands. We know this is a very doable game for us.”

Denton enters the match riding a two-match skid, but the losing streak is not a concern for Stewart.

“If you look at the year we have had you will see we have been able to bounce back,” she said. “Mentally we won’t come in with a negative mindset. We know what is at stake. We are ready for the win because we have had two losses this week. So we are hungry.”

The Lady Broncos have come a long way this season. They lost three of their first eight district matches before going on a late surge to get to this point.

“The girls have not played as individuals,” Stewart said. “They have looked at this as a team and realized anyone can compete with anyone. No one is concerned about themselves. They are worried about their role for the team. They all want to better the team.”

If Denton wins on Friday, it will face District 6-4A champion Birdville on Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.

Ryan ready to feed off district title

Winning the district title on Tuesday night was sweet for Ryan head coach Cindy Williams. But it doesn’t matter if the Lady Raiders don’t prove in the playoffs that they deserved the league crown.

“We are here for a reason and now we have to show it,” Williams said. “This is the playoffs. This is what we have been playing for all season long.”

Ryan (29-5) will face Azle on Tuesday at a site and time to be determined. Azle finished in fourth place in District 6-4A.

“I haven’t seen them this year but we have scouted them,” Williams said. “They are pretty solid. They have a pretty good middle and they are good defensively. They are well rounded.”

Williams said the region her team is competing in will be a tough task. No match is a guaranteed win, she said.

“It is a very difficult region and the kids know that,” she said. “We have to play well. We basically have to be on our toes.”

Last season, Ryan was upset by Birdville in the first round of the playoffs.

“Our kids don’t like talking about that match,” Williams said. “But they have learned from that loss.”

Guyer looks for better playoff finish

Last season, Guyer went into the playoffs with the District 5-4A title and a full head of confidence.

Then the Lady Wildcats were upset in the second round against Arlington Seguin.

This year, Guyer hopes to not see its season end in a disappointing manner like it did in 2008.

“I think we learned that we can’t take anyone lightly in the playoffs,” said Guyer head coach Jennifer Bramlett.

This season, Guyer (24-20) enters the postseason on a two-match winning streak after finishing in second place in District 5-4A.

The Lady Wildcats will face Saginaw Boswell in their bi-district match at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Byron Nelson in Trophy Club.

Boswell beat Guyer earlier this season, but Bramlett said her team will be prepared on Tuesday.

“We lost to them earlier in the year and I think we are a lot more focused now,” she said. “But they [Boswell] are pretty good. That district is way up. They have one of the most consistent power hitters that I have seen.”

Bramlett said the region will be a difficult road with a number of athletic and power teams in the bracket. She said Guyer has to be mentally ready for the playoff push.

“I think in the playoffs it is who refuses to lose,” she said. “I think we are prepared. I am looking for good run.”

Sanger ready fornew experience

For the first time in six years, the Sanger Lady Indians are in the playoffs.

This postseason also will be Sanger head coach Heather Feller’s first playoff experience as a head coach.

“I guess you can say this is the first rodeo for all of us,” she said. “It is exciting for all of us. It is the team’s first time and it is my first time. This should be fun.”

Sanger (24-16) finished the season in third place in District 9-3A. It will face District 10-3A winner Paris in the first round of the playoffs on Monday or Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.

Feller said she hopes her team can get off to a good start and build momentum in the playoffs.

“We don’t know a whole lot about [Paris],” she said. “We just have to take it one game at a time. We have played some of our best and some of our worst matches the last couple of matches to end the season. Now we are ready to rock and roll.”

MATTHEW MUENCH can be reached at 940-566-6869. His e-mail address is mmuench@dentonrc.com .