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.
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking on the “Buy on SmugMug” link below a selected photo. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: San Angelo TLCA-Jim Ned volleyball (46 images)”
TUSCOLA — The Jim Ned volleyball had no problem putting together sustained rallies and quick starts in a District 8-3A match with San Angelo TLCA on Tuesday at Bill Thornton Arena.
Those starts and rallies allowed the Lady Indians to pick up a key 25-17, 25-20, 26-24 win to improve to 17-10 overall and 5-2 in district.
Despite the sweep, Jim Ned coach Miranda Garcia saw plenty of things for her squad to improve on for the second half of district play as they look to keep pace with Clyde and Wall in challenging for a district championship.
Photos by Brittany Lowe
The Benjamin volleyball team’s theme this season is “Believe in We.”
It’s a three-word motto the Lady Mustangs have taken to heart during a successful 2021 campaign despite depending on a heavy dose of underclassmen.
That belief in each other has forged a dynamic team chemistry that is one of the reasons Benjamin is ranked No. 18 in the state at the Class 2A/1A level.
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.
Who says defensive players can’t be the Player of the Week?
That’s certainly not true at Big Country Preps, where our Capital Farm Credit/BCP Player of the Week helped push Stephenville to a stunning 35-7 rout of perennial power Waco La Vega on Friday night.
Senior linebacker Reese Young takes our weekly accolade after charting an almost unbelievable 25 tackles to lead an SHS defensive effort that saw the Yellow Jackets hold La Vega to just 94 yards rushing on 44 carries.
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking on the “Buy on SmugMug” link below a selected photo. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Lubbock Coronado-Cooper volleyball (92 images)”
In a key District 4-5A match full of extended rallies, wild momentum swings and roaring comebacks, the Cooper volleyball team found itself on the short end of each just a little too often in a 33-31, 14-25, 20-25, 25-21, 15-9 loss to Lubbock Coronado on Tuesday at Cougar Gym.
Entering the contest with an opportunity to pull into a third-place tie with the Lady Mustangs in the league standings, the Lady Cougars appeared to be well on their way to doing so up two games to one with a 19-17 lead in Game 4. But Coronado closed out that set with an 8-2 run to force a deciding fifth game and took control of that one quickly to hand Cooper a tough home loss.
The outcome leaves the Lady Coogs at 14-19 overall and 1-3 in district play, in a tie with Lubbock Monterey (15-18, 1-3) for the fourth and final playoff spot. Coronado’s come-from-behind win, meanwhile, keeps the Lady Mustangs (12-20, 3-1) tied with Wylie for second — one match behind league-leader Lubbock Cooper.
Portrait by Sutherland Photography of Goldthwaite. Action photos by Santos Gomez.
The role of libero requires a mentally tough leader determined to get to every ball to flip the game from defense to offense with the dig, pass, set and kill sequence for her volleyball team.
When Comanche needed a new starting libero this season, senior Makenna Carr was a natural choice.
Albany’s Sarah Beth Cotter is still relatively new to volleyball.
Those who’ve been the victim of her thunderous kills lately would be slightly surprised to find out Cotter didn’t begin playing the sport until the eighth grade.
That’s when she enrolled in Albany ISD after previously having been home-schooled.
“I begged my mom to let me go to public school so I could play multiple sports,” Cotter said. “I had only played tennis my whole life but wanted to try something new. The switch wasn’t too hard because I already knew most of the girls at my school and on my sports teams.”
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking on the “Buy on SmugMug” link below a selected photo. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Clyde-Jim Ned volleyball (65 images)”
TUSCOLA — The Clyde volleyball team took sole possession of first place in the District 6-3A race on Tuesday, sweeping Jim Ned 25-13, 26-24, 25-19 at Bill Thornton Arena to improve to 3-0 in league play.
Entering the night tied with the Lady Indians atop the district standings, the Lady Bulldogs (23-11 overall) overcame a strong start by Jim Ned to pull away in Game 1 and rallied from game point in Game 2 to set up the sweep.
It was a key road victory for CHS, which now holds a one-match lead on both Jim Ned (14-10, 2-1) and Wall (25-10, 2-1) with matches against Brady and San Angelo TLCA to wrap up the first half of league play.
Continue reading “GAME STORY: Clyde volleyball sweeps Jim Ned to gain edge in District 6-3A race”
Action photos by Ali Martinez. Portrait by Mindi Bredemeyer.
Joanie Burns has worked hard to become a valuable, versatile player in Snyder’s attack.
But while the senior has put in dozens of hours to hone her craft, she doesn’t quite see it as a burden.
“I would say I’ve worked hard,” she said. “However, it’s not work when you love what you’re doing.”
Photos courtesy of Kelsey Aycock of Copper and Pearl Photo & Video
Despite a season-ending ACL knee injury last year, Campbell Beard become an inspiration as the 2020 Abilene Christian School volleyball team advanced to the TAPPS Class 2A regional final.
“I was set to help the team try to get to state, but that wasn’t part of the plan,” Beard said of 2020. “So I wanted to be there for my teammates. It was hard at times to put a smile on my face, but it allowed me to see a different perspective as a cheerleader and encourager for the team.”
ACS coach Arnett McClure said, “I can’t imagine how depressing it was for Campbell, but she was at every practice and game yelling for the team, talking to the players and picking people up.
Defensive specialists seldom get the attention they deserve in volleyball. Not unlike offensive linemen in football, who do the dirty work behind the scenes that enables the glamour positions to shine.
That isn’t the case at Big Country Preps, where we take pride in giving credit to those willing to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty.
Snyder libero Abby Benitez, perhaps the best defender in the entire Big Country, fits that mold and has captured our Capital Farm Credit/Big Country Preps Player of the Week award for the week ending Sept. 25.
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking on the “Buy on SmugMug” link below a selected photo. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Wall at Clyde volleyball (35 images)”
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking on the “Buy on SmugMug” link below a selected photo. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Wolfforth Frenship-Abilene High volleyball (72 images)”
The Abilene High volleyball team competed well with Wolfforth Frenship on Tuesday night, but untimely mistakes by the Lady Eagles allowed the visitors to leave Eagle Gym with a 25-21, 26-24, 25-18 sweep in District 2-6A action.
Coach Caroline Cleveland’s squad had opportunities in all three games, but the Lady Tigers executed just a little better down the stretch in each to keep the Abilene High at arm’s length throughout the match.
AHS (19-11 overall) trailed by just a point (21-20) late in Game 1, rallied from a 24-20 deficit to tie things up in Game 2 and were deadlocked as late as 13-all in Game 3. The Lady Eagles could never come up with the runs they needed to take control of any of those games, however, in falling to 0-3 to start league play.
Earlier this season, the Wall volleyball team took two of three sets from Clyde in tournament action.
The Lady Bulldogs were determined to not let that happen again as District 6-3A play started Tuesday night in Bulldog Gym.
A loud and rowdy crowd became more and more boisterous with each thunderous kill by Liz Underwood, and Clyde went on to take a 25-13, 16-25, 25-21, 25-21 win.
Abilene High School is enjoying a turnaround season under first-year head volleyball coach Caroline Cleveland.
The Lady Eagles have won 19 games heading into Tuesday’s match against Frenship. Even though they haven’t gotten off to the best district start, Cleveland sees how much potential her girls possess nearly every day.
One example of that upside is sophomore setter Shea Bruntmyer, who is thriving in her first season as a six-rotation player.
Photos courtesy of Calvin Best, Breckenridge ISD
Haigan Thompson’s Big Country-leading 10.9 digs per set begins with studying video of opponents with first-year Breckenridge coach Paula Taylor.
“The very first thing is we try to study our opponents’ tendencies – especially where they like to hit the ball and where certain players like to hit the ball,” Taylor said Monday. “We talk to our assistant coaches during the matches about where they’re hitting the ball, and we listen to Haigan about what spots they’re hitting to.”
Thompson, a 5-foot-4 junior libero, also reads and reacts based on keys from the opponents’ hitters during matches.
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.
When you combine our two key factors in selecting our Capital Farm Credit/BCP Player of the Week — quality of numbers and level of difficulty — nobody outperformed Stephenville quarterback Ryder Lambert last week in SHS’ 37-7 rout of Class 5A Abilene Wylie.
Lambert connected on 22 of 28 throws for 458 yards and five scores to help push the Yellow Jackets to 4-0.
Just four weeks in and the ‘Jackets are looking like they could win Texas’ most difficult 4A district (5-4A DI), despite having road dates with Waco La Vega and Midlothian Heritage.
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking on the “Buy on SmugMug” link below a selected photo. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Cooper-Clyde volleyball (56 images)”
With district play approaching for both squads, the Cooper and Clyde volleyball teams met Tuesday at Bulldog Gym hoping to continue their progression and build some momentum heading into the matches that will decide their postseason fate.
At the end of Tuesday’s nondistrict clash, it was the Class 3A Lady Bulldogs celebrating a 25-17, 25-18, 25-16 sweep, having succeeded in putting their 5A counterparts on the defensive and taking the visiting Lady Cougars out of their game plan.
As the setter for Wylie’s volleyball team, Lexi Miller knows the Lady Bulldogs’ attack goes through her.
By running a 5-1 rotation, Wylie coach Shay Cox puts a lot on her senior, who has rarely left the court the past three seasons.
“Lexi knows who to get the ball to and who’s getting the job done,” Cox said. “We talk about mixing it up – you don’t want the defense to key in on one hitter. Lexi works hard to balance it well and puts us in a good position.”
Portrait by Brandi Dent Photography in Sweetwater. Action photo by Will McClure
There’s no denying the impact of versatile senior Jazzane Potts on the Sweetwater volleyball team. The Lady Mustangs opened this season 1-12 while Potts was undergoing treatment on both her knees, but Sweetwater is 6-5 since her return.
Sweetwater (7-17) had won five consecutive matches entering Tuesday’s nondistrict match at Wall.
“We were sending her to three different doctors,” third-year Sweetwater coach Mitzi Bell said Monday. “We kept asking Jazzane, ‘Are you cleared yet? Are you cleared yet?’”
Clyde junior Payton Phillips first hit the area radar screen last spring when she took double gold at the Region I-3A track meet in the both the long jump and 100 hurdles.
But our Capital Farm Credit/Big Country Preps Player of the Week is also one of the area’s top volleyball setters as well, as last week’s effort in a three-set win over Graham and four-set loss to Stephenville illustrated.
The Wylie volleyball team never trailed in three games as the Lady Bulldogs swept Abilene High 25-17, 25-13, 25-13 on Tuesday night at Bulldog Gym.
Getting a quick sweep of a crosstown opponent was big for Wylie, said coach Shay Cox, noting that it would have been easy for her squad to get too hyped up for Tuesday’s match or to be caught looking ahead to Friday night’s showdown with former district foe Aledo.
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking on the “Buy on SmugMug” link below a selected photo. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Abilene High at Wylie volleyball (30 images)”
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.
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking on the “Buy on SmugMug” link below a selected photo. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Midland Christian-Wylie volleyball (44 images)”
Hosting a Midland Christian squad it had just beaten over the weekend at the Wolfforth Frenship tournament, the Wylie volleyball team took care of the Lady Mustangs in three sets Tuesday, claiming a 25-15, 25-13, 25-18 victory at Bulldog Gym.
Coming off a 25-14, 25-6 tournament win over MCHS, the Lady Bulldogs showed no signs of complacency or let-up in Tuesday’s rematch, dominating play from start to finish to improve to 17-9 on the year.
Tuesday’s match marked the third time this season that Wylie had played a team twice and the first time the Lady Bulldogs have taken two matches from an opponent. In its first two rematch scenarios — against Dumas and Burleson Centennial — the Lady Bulldogs won the first match but were unable to take the second.
Prior to the season, we listed Dublin’s Chris Teten among our Top 10 area quarterbacks to watch in 2021. And he wasted no time in demonstrating why.
Only a junior, Teten threw for 310 yards and five scores in a 43-14 win over area rival De Leon to capture our first Capital Farm Credit/Big Country Preps Player of the Week award for the 2020-21 school year.
Hitting 16 of 26 throws, Teten threw a 69-yard TD pass on the first play from scrimmage, setting the tone for the rest of the evening. With the game in hand, he played a little more than a half before being taken out.
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In a week filled with unforgettable moments, several of our nominees handed in by area coaches could justifiably be called our Capital Farm Credit/BCP Player of the Week.
We finally settled on Clyde sophomore Payton Phillips, who stunned attendees at the Region I-3A meet by taking gold in both the long jump (18 feet, 6 inches) and the 100 hurdles (15.12) — breaking school records that were 25 and 15 years old, respectively.
Our All-Big Country Preps Volleyball team, released today, is in place to honor those who achieved the most on-court success in 2020. It is off the court, however, where character, grit and work ethic are often measured. And it is with our Big Country Preps Max Effort Team that we wish to honor those players who were the hardest-working, best teammates in the area this fall.
This team isn’t about who the best volleyball players were.
The Max Effort team honors hustle, discipline, toughness, coachability and selflessness — traits that coaches wish every player had.
Here are our first-team selections for the inaugural All-Big Country Preps volleyball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
Here are our second-team selections for the inaugural All-Big Country Preps volleyball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
Here are our third-team selections for the inaugural All-Big Country Preps volleyball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
Photos may be purchased for $7 each by clicking on the small shopping cart emblem below the lower right corner of the gallery. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
LUBBOCK — The Cooper volleyball team saw its playoff run and season come to an end Friday night, falling 25-13, 21-25, 25-18, 25-20 to Canyon Randall in a third-round match at Coronado High School.
The Lady Cougars, who were coming off their first two playoff victories since 2002, couldn’t extend their run against the defending Class 5A runner-up Lady Raiders, who also ended Wylie’s season in the opening round of the postseason.
With the loss, Cooper closed its season at 14-10.
MONAHANS — Fresh off their first playoff win in 18 years, the Cooper volleyball team is on a roll.
The Lady Cougars followed a four-set bi-district win over Amarillo Tascosa on Friday with a 25-22, 25-18, 25-21 sweep of El Paso Horizon in the area round on Tuesday to earn a third-round match against state power Canyon Randall later this week.
It was the fourth win in a row for Cooper, which will take a 14-9 record into its match with the Lady Raiders, who edged Wylie 19-25, 25-19 25-19, 18-25, 17-15 in their playoff opener last week.
Cisco quarterback Hunter Long is only a sophomore. And he made his share of sophomore mistakes against an early-season schedule that featured 3A DI powerhouses from Wall and Jim Ned.
Maturity, however, is beginning to catch up with the CHS signal caller, who has gradually developed into one of the top Class 2A weapons in the Big Country.
His latest effort typified his development — passing for 210 yards and rushing for 101 in a 46-15 area round rout of Olton.
Along the way, Long accounted for five Cisco touchdowns, rushing for three and passing for two more to help push the Loboes into the regional semifinals.
It also earned him our Capital Farm Credit/BCP Player of the Week award for the week ending Nov. 21.
“Hunter played a great game,” Cisco coach Kevin Stennett said. “He is getting better every week and his execution of our offense has been outstanding during the playoffs. He made very few mistakes, if any, against Olton and has really emerged as the leader of our offense.”