Many individuals or groups start things but never get to see where it would ultimately lead. But for the 1975 Howard Payne University volleyball team, they can see now that it has continued in success for all the women’s athletic programs at Howard Payne.

Existing only as an intramural team sport before 1975, HPU’s inaugural volleyball team was dubbed the “Spiking Jackets.” They would be the first women’s varsity sport to be established at Howard Payne, with women’s basketball competing for the first time later that semester.

The first win for the volleyball program came in the first match ever played, a 2-0 (15-6, 15-11) victory over McMurry University. The Lady Jacket volleyball team finished that inaugural season with an 8-10 overall record.

The team faced such opponents as McMurry University, Abilene Christian University, Hardin-Simmons University, New Mexico State University, University of Texas-El Paso, Tarleton State University, Sul Ross State University, and Southwestern University.

That season, the team would have notable wins over Hardin-Simmons twice and Tarleton State twice.

Members of the team were Faye Echols, Jenny Allen, Rosalinda Frias, Mary Luthy, Lamar Rodriguez, Lori Hassel, Gayle Echols, Melinda Venable, Carmon Amons, Barbara Jones, Faye Eubanks, and Anna Hotte; coaches were Maxine Hine and Arvid Koopman.

The foundation that these women laid grew into a program that just 12 years later started a run of eight conference championships and has since had numerous All-conference and Academic All-Conference players, and produced future women leaders that have represented Howard Payne with distinction.