Burnet volleyball adds two more to winning streak
CAPTION: Senior Journey Denton (11) high fives senior libero Payton Smith after scoring a point. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography
The Burnet High School volleyball team added two more wins to extend its winning streak to four.
The Lady Dawgs (15-5) defeated Killeen Shoemaker 25-17, 25-6, 25-16 Sept. 5 and Fredericksburg 25-19, 25-15, 18-25, 25-22 Sept. 2.
“It was a great atmosphere for our girls to experience, especially as we gear up for district play,” head coach Crystal Shipley said.
Burnet begins District 24-4A play by welcoming Marble Falls to The Doghouse starting with the subvarsities at 5 p.m. and the varsity to follow.
The Lady Dawgs have swept the Lady Mustangs in each of the last three district campaigns to extend the winning streak to eight dating back to 2019. Marble Falls took a bye Sept. 5.
Burnet will rely on several savvy seniors that include Peyton Allen, Grace Cullison, Sarah Cullison, Journey Denton, Wrigley Mulhollan and Payton Smith, juniors Ava Alexander, Peyton McCabe, Cali Eason, Brianne Smith, sophomores Alexis Clark and Brooklynn Dawes and freshmen Marisa Porter, Landry Schubert and Taylor Smith.
The Lady Dawgs have spent the last several weeks learning new positions and each other’s tendencies. Denton and Grace Cullison were moved to outside hitter for the first time because of their athletic ability. Many times, setters will set the ball to the outside because it’s easier to send the ball that way where hitters who can jump high and adjust to not so perfect balls make it look easy to get a kill.
Denton and Grace Cullison also have another important trait, according to Shipley.
“They’re smart,” she said. “They take the trash well.”
The offense all starts with the ability to handle serve-receive by the defensive specialists, who must pass to setters Eason and Porter. Payton Smith is the team’s libero and serves as the steady presence on the back row. The Lady Dawgs are committed to playing tough defense as illustrated by their record. They’ve lost only 15 sets in 20 matches. Fairfield and Johnson City each won in four sets.
The hitters are coming through when the ball is given to them, and that includes middle blockers McCabe and Taylor Smith. The freshmen’s talents and abilities have been evident from the start. They are unafraid to take on veteran defenders and have shown the same fearlessness when it comes to blocking. What may have taken time was adjusting to the speed on the varsity level.
But more than that, Burnet has won sets by two or three points, which illustrates the mental toughness of the Lady Dawgs.
Defending champion Salado (18-12) was ranked No. 20 in the Class 4A poll of the Texas Girls Coaches Association. No other district member was ranked. Other district members are Georgetown Gateway, Jarrell, Lampasas and Taylor.
The Lady Dawgs are conducting their Teacher Appreciation Night during the Marble Falls matches.
“We’ll honor some of our athletes’ most influential teachers,” Shipley said. “We’d love to pack the gym —come out and support your Lady Dawgs and the incredible educators who help shape their journey.”
Burnet travels to Salado Saturday, Sept. 13, with the subvarsities playing at noon and the varsity at 1 p.m.
STATISTICS
For the week of Sept. 2-5
Kills – G. Cullison 18, Denton 16, Mulhollan 11, T. Smith 11, Schubert 10, Porter 1, P. Smith 1; assists – Porter 27, P. Smith 11, Denton 2, G. Cullison 1, Schubert 1; aces – G. Cullison 7, Clark 4, Porter 3, Denton 2, P. Smith 2; digs – Denton 26, P. Smith 24, Porter 22, Mulhollan 6, Clark 5, T. Smith 4, Allen 3, S. Cullison 2, Alexander 1, Schubert 1; blocks – Schubert 6, T. Smith 5, G. Cullison 2
