Gangls join Crusader volleyball at UMHB
By KRIS BAGLEY sports@leader-news.com

L-N Photo by Kris Bagley Bring On College Ball El Campo got a couple of new college signings this month. Kelsey and Kaylan Gangl both committed to play volleyball for the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Pictured are (front, l-r) Natalie Gangl, the girls' mother, Kaylan Gangl, Kelsey Gangl, James Gangl, their father, and (back) Head Volleyball Coach Diana Matula.

Two Lady 'Birds are seeing a dream come true - Kelsey and Kaylan Gangl will play college volleyball.

"We've been wanting to play since our freshman year," Kelsey Gangl said. "Now that we really get to, I'm really excited.

"We've liked (playing) since we started. We started going to camp since sixth grade. We just picked up on it right away."

The two sisters will share the court as members of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders.

Located in Belton, the university offers small classes and a home-town atmosphere.

"We really liked the campus, it's really pretty," Kelsey Gangl said. "And we really wanted to play, so it seemed like a good place.

L-N Photo by Kris Bagley Unstoppable Kaylan Gangl shows her power with a smash at the net against Giddings.

"It's small, so the classes will be smaller. It's a 15-1 (student-teacher ratio), so that's really good. We went to an economics class and there was about five people in it."

Fans of the Cru, the university's often-used moniker, are known to impact the game. That energy was highly attractive to the girls.

"I like the athletic program too," Kaylan Gangl said. "They seem really into their sports. They have a lot of pride and I like it. They all seem to work hard and everybody cheers for everybody."

They will play for Coach Kecia Davis, who has the girls ready to work on getting in shape for the next season.

"She seems to work us really hard," Kaylan Gangl said. "She told us our workout is going to be a lot of work, but I think it will be worth it.

"She told us there's a bunch of running, lifting weights and water aerobics. We'll be in really good shape."

Davis is a friend of El Campo Head Coach Diana Matula. She used to coach volleyball at Columbus High School and faced the Lady 'Birds in several matches.

L-N Photo by Kris Bagley Here It Comes Kelsey Gangl serves up a shot for the Lady 'Birds in a game against Palacios.

"We've coached against each other," Matula said. "She's a great person and a great coach. They'll love her."

The feelings should be mutual for Davis. Matula praised the girls often during the season and recognized the sisters for their team play and leadership.

"They are sort of quiet, but they're both very aggressive players," Matula said. "Kaylan is a good server. I think probably her (strongest) point is her serving game. They can both set and I think they're getting all-around players in both of them.

"They were the leaders. They always tried to get everybody going and working hard. In workouts and stuff, they were the first ones to say, 'Come on, let's go. Let's get this done so we can do this.' I could always count on them being there."

Their parents, James and Natalie Gangl, are both thrilled with the girls' choice.

"I'm just very proud of them," James Gangl said.

"It's really neat because I've got two of them that get to go off and that's special," Natalie Gangl said. "They have been so dedicated to the sport of volleyball. In the summers and after school, they were outside constantly hitting and volleying the ball back and forth to each other. They were constantly working on their technique."

The drive to Belton is roughly three hours, so it may limit the frequency Kelsey and Kaylan's parents can visit, but the long drive is something the Gangls are used to. After making several trips throughout the state to find the right college, weekend road trips to Belton should seem relatively short.

"The (recruiting process) was very stressful because I knew that they wanted to play very, very badly," Natalie Gangl said. "We did one weekend where we actually went all the way around the state of Texas going and checking out schools. It was just constantly driving all the way around."

Fortunately, the school that stood out is the school that came calling.

"We went up there for one of the (recruiting) days that they had," Natalie Gangl said. "They took us around the campus, got to meet a lot of the students and participate in one of the classes. It was really neat because everybody is just like one big family there. It makes you feel a little bit more comfortable. It's like everybody cares about each other."

The Gangls will both receive academic scholarships in pursuit of degrees in accounting.

Along with the scholarships, the school is within proximity to many of their friends. UMHB is less than two hours away from Austin, Waco and College Station.

The official offer from UMHB came with so many positives, the Gangls could not pass it up. Their realization of a dream came with hard work from the girls, their parents and El Campo's coaching staff.

"It's been really nice to have the support here in El Campo," Natalie Gangl said. "With Coach Matula backing them constantly and being able to help give guidance on where to go, different schools and everything. That's a big help. The support of all the coaches and everything has always been wonderful."