Faith Academy volleyball loses to Temple Central Texas Christian

CAPTION: Faith Academy senior libero Bosley Kuker hits the floor to pancake a ball in order to keep the rally going as junior Reese Ramsey looks on. Photo by Stennis Shotts

The Faith Academy of Marble Falls volleyball team lost to Temple Central Texas Christian 14-25, 20-25, 20-25 in the District 4-3A opener of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.

The two teams matched each other point for point. Senior middle blocker Natalie Weems had two blocks to keep the Lady Flames within a two-point deficit. But a kill off the antenna, a cross court kill and a hitting error resulted in a 13-17 deficit.

That’s when Faith called a timeout.

But CTC senior setter Brianna Beltran served three consecutive aces followed by a directional tip, a serving error and an ace by junior hitter Jenna Armstrong resulting in a 7-2 run and a 22-14 lead.

Armstrong added another ace and a hitting error gave the Lady Lions set point. They won it on a directional tip.

in the second set, Faith sophomore hitter Ella Claiborne and junior hitter Kerrington Silvers each had a kill with Claiborne serving an ace. The two teams exchanged points and played to a 6-6 tie. Three errors and a spike by senior middle blocker Miley Fessler gave the Lady Flames a 10-6 lead.

But CTC began its own run by tying the set at 12-12. The two teams exchanged points until CTC had a dink over the block and a kill from the middle blocker to take a two-point lead.

Fessler had a block and an ace to tie the set at 18-18.

But CTC won seven of the next nine points to take the set.

The Lady Lions took the momentum into the third set, racing to a 5-1 lead. Claiborne scored on a dink, but CTC responded by leading 7-3 on a passing error. Sophomore setter Olivia Kraenzel scored on a dink, Claiborne angled a spike off a block, and a hitting error trimmed the deficit to 9-10.

From there, neither team backed down with each one tying the set. At 20-20, a passing error gave the Lady Lions the lead. They had a kill, an ace and got a point off a Faith hitting error to reach match point. The contest ended on a kill.

Head coach Erin Sawyer gave CTC credit. The times when the defensive specialists passed on target to Kraenzel, who then distributed the ball to Claiborne, Fessler, Silvers and Weems, the Lady Flames only stopped themselves. Rarely were they blocked.

But when that didn’t happen, which is known as being out of system, the Lady Lions usually won the point.

“They took us out of system, and that was the point,” Sawyer said. “We’ll adjust to it.”

Claiborne led with nine kills and 18 receptions on serve-receive. Senior libero Bosley Kuker had 20 digs and 17 receptions on serve-receive. Kraenzel and junior Ella Chavira each had eight assists.

CTC junior Hayleigh Hennig had 11 kills, four aces, 12 digs and 13 receptions on serve-receive. Armstrong nine kills and eight digs.

While winning a district crown is an awesome achievement, Sawyer noted the success of the season doesn’t hinge on that accomplishment.

“We’re getting ready for playoffs,” she said. “The district championship is not that big of a deal. We’re going to win when it matters.”

Those victories, she added, are in the playoffs. She pointed out that the Lady Flames advanced to the Class 3A state tournament last season without winning the district title. And this team is capable of doing that again.

Her focus is on teaching her players the tools they need to be able to consistently compete at the high level they need to reach their goals. If they can do that, the trophies will be there at the end.

“They have to keep working and not give up,” Sawyer said. “They play for each other. It’s our job to do what we can with what we’re giving them.”

Faith welcomes San Antonio Lutheran Tuesday, Sept. 17, with the junior varsity playing at 5 p.m and the varsity to follow.

CAPTION: Faith Academy sophomore hitter Ella Claiborne (front) and senior middle blocker Natalie Weems set the the block and send this tip back to Temple Central Texas Christian. Photo by Stennis Shotts