By Greg Ford
Sports Editor
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The first signs of fall high school sports don’t take place on the gridiron, but rather in the gym.

That’s where prep volleyball teams will be in a week as they prepare for a short preseason before everything officially tips off during the second week of August.

In Wylie, the Lady Pirates and Lady Raiders will open things up against each other on Tuesday, Aug. 8 at Wylie. After that, Wylie and Wylie East will head their separate directions before beginning Class 6A and 5A competition, respectively.

In Wylie’s case, it’ll be operating under head coach Sherry Olivares, who’ll look to guide the Lady Pirates to the postseason after a rough inaugural season last year in District 6-6A. The Lady Raiders did make the postseason under Lisa Curry, and aim to do so again in District 15-5A.

One of the teams Wylie must get through in its district will be Plano East, which barely missed the playoffs last season after finishing 7-7 in 6-6A. That was one of its best district campaigns in recent years, and the best under head coach Scott Sandel.

He returns to lead the Lady Panthers, who’ll begin the regular season with the Aug. 10-12 Pearland Tournament before facing Hockaday on Aug. 17 at home.

Sachse, a perennial playoff participant, should again be favored to make the postseason out of District 10-6A. The Lady Mustangs, who again will be led by head coach Rikki Jones, start the regular Tuesday, Aug. 8 at Rockwall Heath and then will face Carthage at home on Thursday, Aug. 10.