Highland Lakes Aces ready to soar in second season

The Highland Lakes Aces, a club volleyball program under the direction of Erin Sawyer, is beginning its second year and is adding more teams.

In the first year, the program had a 13-and-under squad and a 14-and-under squad.

This year the Aces will have those two squads plus a 12-and-under team coached by Marble Falls High School graduate Natalie Chapa and a 15-and-under squad coached by Zoe Beard for a total of four teams. Most of the players attend Burnet, Llano and Marble Falls school districts and Faith Academy of Marble Falls.

“We started practicing after Thanksgiving,” Sawyer said. “Our first tournament is in early January. Our season will end in March or April.”

Sawyer said the Aces having a total of four teams simply illustrates what’s happening across the country in the sport.

“I definitely think it’s growing,” she said. “Volleyball is getting a lot more popular. I didn’t have a 13U team. I’m going out and finding players who want to play. There are girls who played last year — quite a few players — I’m finding the girls and the coaches. I love the sport of volleyball, and I want the area to change with it, and I’m willing to put in the extra work to get it done.”

Sawyer, who also is Faith Academy of Marble Falls’ volleyball head coach, was on two state tournament teams at Van High School and played for East Texas Baptist University. The sport has paved a path for Sawyer to accomplish her goals and live out moments others may dream of. That’s her motivation for helping players today.

“I just love the sport,” she said. “I want the girls to have the option to play and do more.”

Currently, eight players are on the 12-and-under team, while nine play on the 13-and-under squad, and 12 are on the 14-and-under team and 12 are on the 15-and-under squad.

“These are club teams,” Sawyer said. “We set out to make sure each girl develops and does better for themselves and each program. There’s a lot of quality, especially in Austin. A lot of people are in Austin and not in the area. Volleyball is gaining in popularity. We have the ability for the girls to play more and improve.”

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