Volleyball roundup: Marble Falls, Burnet to begin district play

CAPTION: Junior Chloe Humphreys dives for a dig. She and the Lady Mustangs begin District 24-4A play at Jarrell. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Marble Falls High School volleyball team wrapped up its pre-district schedule Sept. 20 with a loss to Gatesville 11-25, 25-23, 21-25, 23-25.

Now the Lady Mustangs turn their attention to the District 24-4A opener at Jarrell, 1100 FM 487, at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26.

“(The Gatesville match) was our first where we’ve had our entire team back from illness or injuries,” head coach Kait Goertz said. “I’ve had my full team healthy for the first time since early August.”

Goertz proclaimed her squad is ready for district play based off what she has witnessed the last couple of weeks.

The results of the opening set against Gatesville made Marble Falls more determined. Though both teams exchanged points to start the second game, the Lady Mustangs took a 16-10 lead that forced the Lady Hornets into a timeout. And while Gatesville tied the set at 21-21, senior defensive specialist Brie Kingsbury served back-to-back aces to get the Lady Mustangs to set point. Junior outside hitter Sadie Harris ended the set-winning rally with a thunderous kill down the line that left no doubt the game was theirs.

The two teams exchanged points in the third set and played to a 7-7 tie before the Lady Hornets took a 13-8 lead. Though Marble Falls cut the deficit to 13-14, the Lady Mustangs couldn’t get closer. Gatesville won the last three points on spikes to take the game.

The fourth set was like the second and third — both teams matching each other point for point. Marble Falls came back from trailing 0-5 to tie the Lady Hornets 13-13 and 15-15. Just when Gatesville began to pull away, Marble Falls had an answer, tying the score at 20-20 and 23-23. But Gatesville won the final two points on a Marble Falls passing error and an ace.

Goertz noted this match was much like the losses to Ingram 2-3, Florence 2-3 and Salado 1-3.

She looks at those outcomes as positives because the Lady Mustangs are forcing four- and five-set matches. Before, opponents usually won in sweeps.

“I feel really good,” she said. “We are super close. It’s little adjustments we’re making here and there and we’re growing our program. We’re learning how to compete. Now we have to learn how to win.”

Burnet Lady Dawgs sweep Brownwood in all 3 matches

The Burnet Lady Dawgs showed once more why they remain the team to beat in District 24-4A. The defending district champions traveled to Brownwood Sept. 20 and earned sweeps on all three levels.

The varsity won 25-12, 25-20, 25-16. More importantly Burnet showed its balance and depth in getting spikes from multiple players throughout the lopsided win.

Junior middle blocker Zaria Solis led with 10 kills and 3 blocks followed by senior outside hitter McKenzie Davis with 9 kills and 10 digs, and sophomore outside hitter Lauren Howton with 8 kills. Sophomore setter Camryn Courtney had 14 assists, while senior setter Lainey Rye added 12 assists and 6 digs. Senior defensive specialist Addie Grace Hernandez had 11 digs, while junior outside hitter MaeSyn Gay had 8 and junior defensive specialist Reagan Shipley had 7.

Burnet travels to Lago Vista, 5185 Lohman Ford Road, for the district opener at 4:30 p.m.

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STATS

Kills — Z aria Solis 10, McKenzie Davis 9, Lauren Howton 8, Laney Huffman 3, MaeSyn Gay 2, Addie Houston 2; aces — McKenzie Davis 1, Lainey Rye 1, Camryn Courtney 1; assists — Camryn Courtney 14, Lainey Rye 12, McKenzie Davis 2, Addie Grace Hernandez 1, Harlynn Roberts 1, Journey Denton 1; blocks — Zaria Solis 3, Laney Huffman 1, MaeSyn Gay 1, Samantha Gaylord 1, Addie Houston 1; digs — Addie Grace Hernandez 11, McKenzie Davis 10, MaeSyn Gay 8, Reagan Shipley 7, Lainey Rye 6, Camryn Courtney 4, Laney Huffman 4, Harlynn Roberts 3, Lauren Howton 2, Addie Houston 2, Zaria Solis 2, Samantha Gaylord 2, Journey Denton 1