No time was a good time for Tropical Storm Harvey.

When Harvey arrived in Port Arthur last Aug. 29, Memorial’s volleyball team was 14-7. The goal every season, fifth-year coach Bianca Dixon said, is to be unbeaten going into district play.

“We haven’t done that yet, but we’ve been closer than we’ve ever been last year,” she said.

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The Titans finished the season 19-16, but struggled in District 22-5A play after Harvey and missed out on the UIL playoffs. Harvey forced some players to temporarily evacuate Port Arthur.

“The main thing I take from it is that it was a challenge,” she said. “We just take that and face challenges head on. We had injuries after Harvey as well. We lost Gabby [Arocho], who’s a big part of our program.”

Arocho’s loss meant the Titans had to take a defensive specialist and fill her role as a setter. Now, Memorial has its “glue girl” back, one of five experienced seniors on the club.

“I love that Gabby’s back on the team because even when my pass isn’t perfect, she still busts her butt to help me out and pass it up to set the hitters up so they can kill it,” classmate Janiya Graham said.

The Titans expect senior Diamond Newsome and Korie Dominick to rack up many of those kills. Newsome, a third-year varsity standout, has been a part of some talented front lines in her career, while Dominick hopes to build on her 2017 22-5A newcomer of the year honor.

Dominick transferred into the Port Arthur ISD last season from Sabine Pass.

“It’s been a great transition,” she said. “I’ve always loved to play up. When I transferred to Memorial, it was just a great experience. More challenges and a really great team.”

Ask Newsome, and she’ll say a challenge will never stop Memorial, whether it’s overcoming a natural disaster or pursuing the school’s first-ever playoff berth.

“Coach Dixon has always believed in me,” she said. “I’m not going to let her down or the team down. I’m going for a ring.”

Memorial hosted a scrimmage jamboree Friday and will begin the season at home Tuesday against Houston Chavez. So far, senior Niya Conley likes what she sees from her team.

“It’s all coming together because we’re coming together as a family and we’re one big team,” she said.

Even in a retooled District 21-5A, which sees Memorial, Nederland, Port Neches-Groves and Vidor shift from 22-5A to join Barbers Hill, Cleveland and Dayton, Dixon says the goals won’t change, just some of the in-game atmospheres.

Among the goals is a prediction Dixon has made for the Titans — and that Arocho echoed.

“We’re going to the playoffs,” Arocho said.

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I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews