Faith volleyball shows depth, talent at tourney
CAPTION: The Faith Academy of Marble Falls volleyball team performs well at the SpikeDown 2024 tournament. The team includes Ava Beltran (front row, left), Alyana Reyes, Hadley Shipley; head coach Erin Sawyer (back row, left), Kerrington Silvers, Morgan Weems, Abbye Blackington, Ella Claiborne, Olivia Kraenzel, Jillian Martin and Bosley Kuker. Courtesy photo
The Faith Academy of Marble Falls volleyball team finished third in its pool of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools’ SpikeDown 2024 tournament in Fort Worth Aug. 14-16.
The Lady Flames (6-2-2) defeated Bishop Dunne 25-14, 25-21, Azle Christian 25-24, 25-19, Muenster Sacred Heart 25-23, 17-25, 15-11, San Antonio Lutheran 25-10, 25-19 and won another match in straight sets. They lost to Victory Baptist Academy 18-25, 19-25 and Nazarene Christian Academy 25-23, 16-25, 13-15 and tied Houston Second Baptist University Model 21-25, 25-21 and Fort Worth Southwest Christian School 23-25, 25-23.
“We tied twice and lost one set in pool play based off our mistakes that we could have won,” head coach Erin Sawyer said. “There were three teams (in our pool) tied for second at 8-4. Last year we didn’t do well in pool play. This year we lost to the team that won our bracket. We played four and won three in a row.”
The Lady Flames encountered challenges from the start. Senior setters Abbye Blackington had an injured finger and Hadley Shipley didn’t feel 100 percent. So Olivia Kraenzel took over at setter.
“She stepped to the plate,” Sawyer said. “There was a little confusion here and there. The girls stepped in and adjusted and crushed it. They pulled it together.”
Though Shipley wasn’t feeling her best, she played and was named to the all-tournament team.
The success through the challenges gives the Lady Flames something they get through playing, Sawyer said.
“It boosts their confidence,” she said. “This is already so much better than last year. They realize they have potential they don’t see in themselves. They realize we do have a chance. This is a great thing. It opens their eyes.”
Sawyer can see the court chemistry and how the Lady Flames know each other’s tendencies that can only be learned by playing numerous sets together.
“Things are starting to click more,” she said. “They think about volleyball in different ways and why they’re doing the things I ask them to do.”
Faith welcomes Bulverde Gloria Deo Tuesday, Aug. 20, to The Fire Pit. The subvarsities play at 5 p.m. with the varsity to follow.
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