Marble Falls volleyball adjusting to demanding district

CAPTION: Marble Falls senior Mia Trejo and the Lady Mustangs are using the bye to regroup after starting District 24-4A play. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography

The Marble Falls High School volleyball team is on a bye Friday, Sept. 20, which will allow the program to end homecoming week by attending the football game between the Mustangs and San Antonio Brackenridge.

Meanwhile, Lady Mustangs head coach Christopher Pace plans to take the short trek to Lampasas High School to do some scouting of the Lady Badgers’ home match against Burnet before coming back in time to watch some football.

It’s a bye that comes at the right time as the Lady Mustangs (16-12, 0-2) continue to search for their first District 24-4A win after losing to Georgetown Gateway 6-25, 13-25, 3-25, Sept. 17 and to Burnet 8-25, 7-25, 8-25 Sept. 13.

Pace said the Lady Mustangs’ ability to start their offense has been a positive.

“Our serve-receive has been good,” he said. “We’re passing the ball fairly well. We’re still communicating in the huddle.”

It’s a crucial stretch for Marble Falls with this district displaying some parallels to its old District 25-5A that featured Cedar Park High, Georgetown High, Georgetown East View, Leander High, Leander Glen, Leander Rouse and Liberty Hill. Marble Falls moved down to Class 4A for the 2022-23 school and remained there when realignment for the next two years was announced by the University Interscholastic League in February.

Last season, Salado posted a 39-11 overall record and won District 23-4A with a perfect 10-0 record en route to finishing its season at the Class 4A state semifinals. During that playoff run, the Lady Eagles beat Taylor, the District 22-4A champion, 3-1 in the area round of the playoffs and Gateway, the District 24-4A champion, in the regional quarterfinals 3-2.

All three are now in District 24-4A with Marble Falls and Burnet, which lost in the regional quarterfinals to China Spring last year. While Marble Falls faced Gateway Sept. 17, Burnet lost to Salado in three sets.

Pace emphasized one loss doesn’t change his opinion of the Lady Dawgs.

“Burnet is great,” he said. “They have six girls who know the system. They run it perfectly. This is the only system they’ve ever known.”

Meanwhile, Marble Falls noticed three college scouts sitting in the stands during its match at Gateway as they observed the Lady Gators.

“They have seniors,” Pace said. “They’re older and experienced. That always plays a role. They all play club (volleyball). Those girls only play club. They’re volleyball players 100 percent of the time. They have three girls who put the ball where they want.”

All of that illustrates Pace’s main point.

“We know it’s one of the toughest districts in (Class) 4A,” he said. “We’re going to compete and do our part. It’s a tough hand we were dealt. We know what we need to fix. We’re working some things out.”

Marble Falls welcomes Salado Tuesday, Sept. 24, with the subvarsities playing at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity to follow.

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CAPTION: Marble Falls sophomore hitter Madison Cuplin is one of several underclassmen contributing to the Lady Mustangs’ team this season. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography