Category: Volleyball

by Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: Versatile Bryant helping Lady Indians to banner season

Photos by Meredith Goodwin

Is versatile Jim Ned senior Kate Bryant better as an outside hitter or as a setter?  

It’s a question that leaves Lady Indians volleyball coach Miranda Garcia stumped upon reflection.  

“Ooohh that’s a tough one. She has always been a great setter, always had great hands, even in middle school,” Garcia said. “Her hitting has really come along since her sophomore year. She wanted to be an outside hitter since middle school, so she’s really been working on hitting.”  

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Abilene High senior Hernandez a force in the middle for young Lady Eagles

At 6-foot-2, Jadyn Hernandez casts an imposing shadow at the net. But the senior middle blocker is far more than a just a big body for the Abilene High volleyball team.

Blessed with excellent athleticism to go with her height, Hernandez is an offensive force as middle hitter, and her presence at the net on defense is one all opponents must account for.

But perhaps just as important as what she does on the court on game days is what she has brought as a leader — a role through which she’s helped a young Lady Eagles squad find its stride in the first half of District 4-5A play.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Abilene High stretches win streak to three with home sweep of Lubbock High

The Abilene High volleyball team continued its recent run of quality play Tuesday at Eagle Gym, sweeping Lubbock High 25-20, 25-20, 25-7 to improve to 3-1 in District 4-5A play.

The Lady Eagles, 12-14 overall, had one of their best offensive performances of the season, hitting .310 as a team to stretch their winning streak to three matches since opening league play with a loss to crosstown foe Wylie.

The victory kept AHS within a win of the district lead with two more matches remaining in the first half of district play.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Jim Ned gets 14th win in last 15 matches with five-set thriller

TUSCOLA — The Jim Ned volleyball team, which has only lost one match since Aug. 23, has not been afraid to play outside their classification in order to get stronger heading into district play.

Last week, that meant the Lady Indians hit the road and played up three classifications, getting swept by Class 6A Midland Legacy, before playing down two classes on Tuesday night in a classic trap game against Class 1A Veribest — which entered the match at Bill Thornton Arena as the fourth-ranked team in the state.

Through three sets against the Lady Falcons, it looked like the trap was in full effect and the Lady Indians were looking ahead to their district opener against San Angelo Grape Creek. In the fourth set, though, Avery Vinson took over and led the Lady Indians to a thrilling 25-21, 23-25, 23-25, 25-11, 15-12 come-from-behind win as Jim Ned improved to 14-1 in its last 15 matches, having lost only seven sets in that span.

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by Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: Clyde off to great start with the help of defensive specialist

Photos by Rachel Laughlin and Tony Brockway 

Clyde’s Chloe Ukle works best under pressure.  

The senior libero thrives when opposing teams send volleyballs hurling her way, sprawling all over the court for digs.   

“What I love about being a libero is the control that I have of the back row,” Ukle said. “Knowing that I am in control of what goes on in the back row pushes me harder.”  

Ukle’s defensive efforts are a key reason the Lady Bulldogs are 20-12 heading into Tuesday’s non-district finale against Glen Rose. Despite facing difficult competition, Ukle leads the Big Country with 5.4 digs per set and has tallied 457 digs for the year.  

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by Yale Youngblood, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: Young Wylie squad working to build consistency as district play ramps up

Last year, the Wylie volleyball team finished the season perched on hallowed ground, setting/spiking/toughing its way to a 32-14 record en route to the Region I-5A quarterfinals. 

For those keeping score at home, that’s three rounds deep in the playoffs — marking the program’s deepest run since making the jump to Class 5A.

While coach Shay Cox appreciated the accomplishment of her very bulldog-ish Lady Bulldogs, she also knew every time she reviewed the list of the 2021 graduating players that replicating that kind of success and sustaining the momentum this season was going to be a tall order.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Abilene High downs rival Cooper in four to even district record at 1-1

Playing each other in a district match for the first time since 2013, the Abilene High and Cooper volleyball teams met Tuesday at Cougar Gym, each looking to even their District 4-5A record at 1-1. In the end, it was the Lady Eagles who prevailed, outlasting their crosstown rivals for a hard-fought 25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 26-24 victory.

AHS, which opened league play with a loss to Wylie on Friday, found itself down 23-22 in Game 2 and 23-20 in Game 4 against Cooper on Tuesday. But each time, the Lady Eagles rallied to win the set — the first to take a commanding 2-0 lead and the second to clinch the match and avoid a do-or-die fifth set.

The victory improved coach Caroline Cleveland’s team to 10-15 on the year, while Cooper fell to 11-14 overall and 0-2 in district play.

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by Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: Versatile Williams’ leadership matching her physical talent

Kamryn Williams is more than just a six-rotation standout for Wall’s volleyball program.  

While she once again leads the No. 8 Lady Hawks in kills (3.7 per set), it’s Williams’ senior leadership and determination that have been just as impressive.  

“For the first time, she’s not necessarily our only go-to player because now anytime, we can go to anyone,” Wall coach Robynn Jones said. “That says a lot about Kamryn.

“She’s helped other players come into their own and gain the confidence they need so we can have a great team, not a good team.”  

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by Evan Ren

Big Country Volleyball Statistical Leaders (through Sept. 13)

Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Tuesday at 7 p.m.

This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.

We will continually update the database throughout the regular season.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Wylie volleyball splits pair in final matches before district play

The Wylie volleyball team wrapped up the pre-district portion of its schedule with a home split Tuesday, sweeping Granbury 25-18, 25-19, 29-27 before falling to San Angelo Central 25-14, 24-21, 16-25, 25-16 in the finale of a dual match at Bulldog Gym.

The results send the Lady Bulldogs into Friday’s District 4-5A opener at Abilene High with a 15-13 record.

While her team struggled at times in the nightcap against the Lady Cats, Wylie coach Shay Cox focused on the positives from the two matches, concluding that the Lady Bulldogs showed some necessary growth with league play on the horizon.

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by Evan Ren

Big Country Volleyball Statistical Leaders (through Sept. 6)

Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Tuesday at 7 p.m.

This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.

We will continually update the database throughout the regular season.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

FEATURE: Bruntmyer sisters leading the way for Abilene Christian

Abilene Christian volleyball coach Arnett McClure knows he’s got a good team this year and a big part of that is the play of sisters Halle and Shea Bruntmyer.

The daughters of Hardin-Simmons University president Eric Bruntmyer have become mainstays in McClure’s lineup, with Shea leading the way as the team’s setter and leading server, while Halle is a back-line anchor.

Shea, who is a year older than Halle, has the task of being both a teammate and older sister and has to juggle being able to know when to play each role both on and off the court.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Lady Eagles battle but fall in three to Wichita Falls Rider

For a match that only went three sets, Tuesday’s nondistrict competition between Abilene High and Wichita Falls Rider was a deceptively competitive one. But despite a resilient performance that saw the hosts put forth a game effort throughout, the Lady Eagles could never quite seize the momentum in a 27-25, 25-18, 25-21 loss at Eagle Gym.

Playing from behind for most of the match, AHS never let the visiting Lady Raiders run away with things — even when it looked as though Rider was poised to take control.

But ultimately, the Lady Eagles weren’t quite as crisp in their execution as the visitors, and that proved to be the difference in the sweep.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: ACHS spikes Albany in nondistrict volleyball matchup

The Abilene Christian High School volleyball team started fast and dominated most of the night on Tuesday as the Lady Panthers swept Albany 25-11, 25-11, 25-22 at Panther Gym in nondistrict action.

Shea Bruntmyer led ACHS to the first six points of the match, highlighted by two aces, as the Lady Panthers improved to 15-9 on the season.

Albany, meanwhile, fell to 10-7 with the loss.

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by Evan Ren

CAPITAL FARM CREDIT/BCP PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Saba senior has utility man game of the ages

We’re all accustomed to running backs, quarterbacks and receivers producing memorable nights. But it isn’t often that you see a utility man make the entire area do a doubletake. 

San Saba senior Tyler Johnson managed on Friday while helping the Armadillos to a season-opening 46-14 win over Florence. And his 77 rushing yards and three scores were only the tip of the iceberg. 

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by Brandon McAuliffe

FEATURE: Volleyball makes triumphant return to Merkel

MERKEL — In 1967, the Merkel volleyball team lost in the state semifinals before knocking off Kemp in a three-set thriller to finish in third place in Class B in the program’s lone state tournament appearance.

Just 19 years later, the program was disbanded, leaving the town and community with no teams to support all week prior to the football games on Friday nights.

Tuesday night at Badger Gymnasium, that history was changed.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

FCA ALL-STAR FESTIVAL: Players excited to see assistant coaches get their chance to shine

With the Big Country Chevy Dealers Fellowship of Christian Athletes All-Star Festival entering its 23rd year, event organizers are faced with the unique dilemma of needing new coaches.

The FCA staffs in Abilene, Brownwood and San Angelo have found a creative solution for this year’s festival, which is scheduled for June 2-11: to give area assistant coaches their moment in the spotlight.

This provides a neat opportunity for both the coaches and their players, who are excited to see their assistant coaches have a chance to lead a squad.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

FCA ALL-STAR FESTIVAL: Rosters announced for this year’s event

As the winter sports start to hit the playoffs, it means another thing: it’s time to start finding out who the Fellowship of Christian Athletes all-stars are.

The 23rd annual Big Country Chevy Dealers FCA All-Star Festival will take place with eight events over nine days in four different cities from June 2-11.

Here’s a look at this year’s participants.

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by Daniel Youngblood

UIL REALIGNMENT: Abilene schools avoid surprises, welcome new challenges

While many coaches across the area and state were scrambling Thursday after being thrown a curveball by the University Interscholastic League, the leaders of Abilene’s three largest programs enjoyed a relatively peaceful realignment day, free of any major surprises.

Having learned in December that Abilene High would be dropping to Class 5A Division I and Cooper would be moving to 5A DII,  all AHS coach Mike Fullen and his Cooper counterpart, Aaron Roan, were waiting on was to find out their district. And both landed in leagues they expected.

Abilene High was sent to District  2-5A DI with Amarillo High, Amarillo Caprock, Amarillo Tascosa, Lubbock Cooper, Lubbock Coronado and Lubbock Monterey, while Cooper joins Wylie in District 2-5A DII, along with Amarillo Palo Duro, Lubbock High, Plainview and Wichita Falls Rider.

Fullen, Roan and Wylie’s Clay Martin all ended the day happy with their placement and relieved that their weather-impacted realignment went about smoothly as it could have.

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by Evan Ren

SIGNING DAY: Eakin, Jones among several high-profile area signees

What appeared to be a slow year for the Big Country on the signing front quickly blossomed into something memorable in 2022. 

With National Signing Day taking place on Wednesday, the Big Country Preps coverage area finished with multiple Division I signees, including several on the gridiron. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

SIGNING DAY: Eight Wylie athletes make college decisions official

One table wasn’t nearly enough for all of Wylie’s signees at the school’s signing day ceremony Wednesday at the Wylie Performing Arts Center. Athletic director Clay Martin needed three to seat the eight athletes who made their college decisions official on National Signing Day.

Five football players, a baseball player, a volleyball player and a track and field athlete all got to sign their letters of intent and be recognized by friends and family, with seven of the eight electing to stay in town and compete for Abilene universities.

Four of the football players — offensive lineman Jaxon Lunsford, tight end Jaxon Rutledge, linebacker Jaxon Camacho and kicker/punter Grayson Bearden — all committed to Hardin-Simmons University, while their teammate X’Zavier Collins, a defensive lineman, signed with Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth.

Wylie’s other three signees — volleyball setter Lexi Miller, baseball catcher Nick Sobolewski and discus and shotput thrower Hannah Hutchinson — are all headed to McMurry University.

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by Evan Ren

2021 BIG COUNTRY PREPS MAX EFFORT TEAM: The hardest-working players in area volleyball!

While our All-Big Country Preps Volleyball team is in place to honor those who achieved the most on-court success, our “Max Effort” team is something much more uncommon. 

This is a special accolade, which has nothing to do with talent or stats.

It is here where character, grit and work ethic — traits that coaches wish every player had — are recognized. It is here where we honor the best teammates and best citizens that area volleyball has to offer.

It is for that reason that this team is selected by area coaches and described in their own words.

Big Country Preps is now honored to present these individuals to you — the hardest-working, toughest volleyball players in the Big Country. Ladies and gentlemen: Our 2021 Big Country Preps Max Effort Team. 

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by Evan Ren

CAPITAL FARM CREDIT/BCP PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hico sophomore Booth earns the spotlight

Big numbers will generally get one strong consideration for our Capital Farm Credit/Big Country Preps Player of the Week award. But when those numbers come against a team from a much larger classification, it quickly makes us take notice. 

Class 2A Hico’s Grace Booth did exactly that last week in a 61-57 win over Class 4A Mineral Wells, dominating both ends of the floor to lead the Lady Tigers in their season opener. 

Aside from the 40 points she poured in, Booth snagged 10 rebounds to chart a double-double. She also forced multiple turnovers (viewable on the video above), including three steals.

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by Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: Strong senior class fueling Wylie volleyball into playoffs

The seven seniors that Wylie volleyball coach Shay Cox works with hold a special place in her heart.

Five of them were in Cox’s fifth grade PE class when she started out with the district, and Cox has enjoyed watching them grow and thrive on a yearly basis.

Entering the playoffs Tuesday with a 6 p.m. match against Amarillo Tascosa at Lubbock Coronado, the Wylie seniors are guaranteed just one more match. But both Cox and her core group of leaders are determined to extend their time together as long as possible. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Wylie volleyball sweeps Cooper to take momentum into the playoffs

  Having already clinched the No. 2 playoff seed out of District 4-5A, the Wylie volleyball team didn’t necessarily need a Senior Night win over crosstown rival Cooper on Tuesday at Bulldog Gym.

But with the postseason approaching, the Lady Bulldogs played as though they did, taking care of business in a 25-14, 25-15, 26-24 sweep to head into the playoffs on a 6-1 run. 

Coach Shay Cox’s squad, which improved to 30-13 win the victory, closed out its district schedule with an 8-2 record, while ending the Lady Cougars’ season at 16-23 overall and 3-7 in league play.

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by Mike Lee, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: Wall volleyball aiming to win district, get beyond area round of playoffs

Photos by Kristie Williams

The Wall Lady Hawks volleyball team has made the playoffs in all six seasons with Robynn Jones as head coach. But like with most successful sports teams, the Lady Hawks want more.

They are seeking to beat Clyde for the District 6-3A championship and advance beyond the area round of the Class 2A playoffs.

“Every year since Clyde has been in our district, we hadn’t beaten them until this year,” Jones said Tuesday. “We beat them earlier this year in a tournament, and we stole one from them in district. We actually split (two matches) in district.”

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by Evan Ren

Big Country Volleyball Statistical Leaders (through Oct. 26)

Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Tuesday at 7 p.m.

This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.

We will continually update the database throughout the regular season.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: De Leon volleyball wraps up district title with thrilling win at Coleman

COLEMAN — With wild momentum swings like crazy in the fourth set, the De Leon volleyball team closed out its second straight District 8-2A title with a 25-13, 23-25, 25-15, 27-25 win over rival Coleman on Tuesday night.

It wasn’t easy for the Lady Cats as the Bluekatts fought tooth-and-nail in clinging to their hopes of being co-district champions.

The fourth set saw Coleman rally from being down 13-6 to tie the match at 18-18. The two sides then alternated the next 14 points before a pair of hitting errors on the Bluekatts sealed the win for De Leon.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Wylie volleyball pushes district leader Lubbock Cooper to limit, but falls in five-set thriller

 Tuesday’s District 4-5A clash between the Wylie and Lubbock Cooper volleyball teams had everything you could want from a match of that magnitude — a large and rowdy crowd, outstanding efforts on both sides of the net and a thrilling finish.

The only thing missing at the end of five sets of nonstop action at Bulldog Gym was a Lady Bulldog victory.

Hosting the Lady Pirates with a share of the district lead on the line, Wylie fell just short in an 18-25, 27-25, 25-23, 23-25, 15-13 classic. But after the match, Lady Bulldogs coach Shay Cox had nothing but praise for the way her squad competed.

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by Mike Lee, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: De Leon volleyball poised for another playoff run after slow start

Photos courtesy of Tayla Rainwater and Rob Mendez

Team photo by De Leon student Tayla Rainwater.

A 6-7 start by the De Leon volleyball team was somewhat understandable despite last year’s unprecedented run to the Class 2A regional semifinals in what was the Lady Cats’ best season on record.

“We lost three really good seniors off last year’s team, so we had some big shoes to fill,” fourth-year De Leon head coach Kinsey Garcia said Tuesday. “Plus we were fitting in a talented newcomer to the team (in sophomore Genesis Mendez). We didn’t play any tournaments last year because of COVID, so we had to get used to playing multiple matches in a day.”

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