Marble Falls volleyball has winning streak at tourney

The Marble Falls High School volleyball team went 5-3 at the Austin Independent School District tournament Aug. 15-16.

But the five wins were all in a row.

After Marble Falls lost to Austin McCallum 19-25, 20-25 and to Del Valle 9-25, 12-25, the Lady Mustangs (6-4) defeated Austin Travis 25-11, 25-9, Austin Northeast 25-12, 25-17, Manor New Tech 25-12, 25-14, Texas School for the Deaf 28-26, 25-22, and Bastrop Cedar Creek, a Class 5A playoff team, 25-21, 25-20. The other loss was to Brownsville Rivera 10-25, 20-25.

“Five wins in a row felt great, that we could sustain such success,” head coach Christopher Pace said. “It was a great week. We played phenomenal for seven out of eight matches. We needed to play at our level — play consistent Marble Falls volleyball. “

He noted he and the players had a chat following the setback to Del Valle.

“We calmed down and resettled ourselves,” he said. “We competed with tough competition and beat tough competition.”

He said the Lady Mustangs displayed several positive traits during the tournament.

“We’re a lot grittier than we have been in the past,” he said. “It’s constant hustle and consistent effort. We limited our mistakes. When we had opportunities to put the ball away, we put the ball away.”

Pace credited senior Mia Trejo for playing like a veteran. Against the School for the Deaf, Trejo scored the last three points of each set to secure the victory.

“She asked the ball to be set to her, and she put the ball away,” he said. “She was doing everything we needed her to as well as leading our team in assists. She was putting the ball in great position the whole time.”

Trejo, who recently moved to setter, ended the tournament with 60 assists.

Pace also was pleased with junior Kate McCary, who is known as a defensive specialist but asked if she could go to hitter.

“She’s been putting the ball away in practice,” he said. “After three matches, she had 21 kills. Mia and Kate did a lot on the offensive side of the ball.”

Defensively, Payton Dunk and defensive specialist Katie Terrell, who dug just about every ball that came her way and passed well, led the effort.

“Payton was tremendous at the net with blocking,” the coach said. “She wasn’t afraid of anybody.”

Pace was complimentary of Del Valle.

“Their record last year was deceiving,” he said. “The Brownsville loss shook us a little bit. We were leading them 18-16. Mia got two aces in a row. They had a quick sideout and went. In general to take a lead on a 6A is a good sign. It was exciting volleyball and exciting to see us play well. There wasn’t one girl who touched the court who didn’t perform the way we needed her to. We were playing with enthusiasm and flying around and did what we needed to do.”

Marble Falls travels to Florence Tuesday, Aug. 20. The subvarsities play at 5 p.m. and the varsity follows.

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