Burnet volleyball begins season practices with tryouts

The Burnet High School volleyball program will open The Doghouse gymnasium for tryouts beginning at 6:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1, the first day the University Interscholastic League is allowing the practices to officially begin for the 2025 season.

It’s the first of two practices for the official start of two-a-days. The Lady Dawgs will end the first session at 9:30 a.m. and return for the second session from 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Head coach Crystal Shipley, who is entering her seventh year at the high school, said the program will welcome 50 players.

Volleyball has the quickest turnaround of the fall sports. The Lady Dawgs, who finished third in the 2024 District 24-4A standings and lost in the second round of the Class 4A Division I playoffs to Bellville, will welcome Blanco at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, in the season opener.

Shipley noted the Lady Dawgs are used to the schedule and embrace the requirement to bring high intensity to the court each time they step onto it.

“We have a good routine that I feel prepares us and our athletes for the quick turnaround,” she said. “Practices are planned to help the girls get to know their teammates quickly (team building) and be able to rank what each teams’ needs are. Our staff does a great job of working through the little things first then build on those skills to prepare our teams for games.”

Coaches will be studying many traits from each player during the tryouts, especially the things the Lady Dawgs control: energy, effort and attitude, Shipley said.

“Are they communicating? Are they committed to our non-negotiables? Are they being coachable when being corrected?” she said. “These are very big things for me.” 

The program’s veterans will be counted on to the set the pace for players, Shipley said, in particular because the first week is all about the grind. Six seniors, including captains Journey Denton and Payton Smith, Grace and Sarah Cullison, Peyton Allen and Lyle Elliott, are expected to return.

“Our upperclassman will be a huge part of leading the younger girls through the ‘not so fun’ parts of tryouts,” she said. “It does help that they are fully aware of our expectations and standards. They have learned to hold others accountable, which helps us as coaches. It does help get through the drills faster, but we still like to throw in some new things as we go so it’s not so monotonous.”

The Lady Dawgs return to the court full time after the last few months competing in spring and summer leagues in Georgetown and attending summer strength and conditioning and open gyms. All that extra work is paying off, the coach said.

“It helps them to be more prepared physically, especially through the conditioning piece,” she said. “It’s helps their bodies be acclimated to the heat and the energy needed to get through five-hour days.” 

Shipley, who is known for her high energy and infectious attitude, said she is looking forward to coaching these Lady Dawgs. They have put in the work to get themselves ready for this crucial month.

“I’m excited about this group,” the coach said. “I think they will surprise some people with their grit and determination to be great.”