Faith Academy volleyball loses to Providence
CAPTION: The Lady Flames, who are senior libero Bosley Kuker (11), junior setter Ella Chavira (6) sophomore setter Olivia Kraenzel, sophomore middle blocker Elizabeth Neely, sophomore athlete Ella Claiborne and junior defensive specialist Ava Beltran, helped this year’s team rewrite program history. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
The Faith Academy of Marble Falls volleyball team lost to Spring Providence Classical 9-25, 15-25, 11-25 Nov. 8 in a Class 3A regional final of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.
The Paladins are the defending state champions who beat the Lady Flames in the Class 3A state semifinals a year ago.
“They have two very strong hitters,” Faith head coach Erin Sawyer said. “(Senior Peytyn Pyle) is going to Samford (University). And then they have (junior Savannah Goodwin). She is a very good hitter, too. And then they have a setter who’s very good as well as she’s tall. She’s like 6 feet or just a little shy of (Faith sophomore) Ella (Claiborne). Those three girls combined with their back row, which is a strong back row, proved to be a formidable opponent.”
Most of the Paladins’ points came from the outside hitters. The Lady Flames wanted to use their middle blockers more, but they were fighting injuries.
“It would be a little bit of a different outcome,” Sawyer said. “I don’t know if we could have won. But I do know we’d be talking a little bit of a different outcome. We had some very strong moments, and I was really excited. We ended up going on a little spree in the third game and we were ahead, and they called a timeout. So our things were going the right way.”
She noted she was “bummed” the season ended, adding it didn’t take away all the Lady Flames accomplished.
They went 28-9, which might be a record for the most wins in a season, finished second in District 4-3A, which is the best district placement in program history, and returned to a regional final for the second time ever.
“Our season was great,” the coach said. “I was very excited for getting to regionals again when previously that hadn’t been the case. So very, very excited for all the hard work the girls are doing and the effort they give. Just really proud of them. I’m glad and happy to be their coach.”
The program says goodbye to libero Bosley Kuker and middle blockers Miley Fessler and Natalie Weems, who are all seniors.
“I started at (the junior varsity) with Natalie,” Sawyer said. “And then when I took over (as head coach), she was with me on varsity for the next three years. Natalie was my first full four-year high school player. Bosley I had for three years and Miley I had for technically one year because she never played before.”
Fessler joining the program allowed Sawyer to move players to different spots. That included athlete Claiborne, who rarely, if ever, rotated out.
Her expected return means she has the chance to rewrite plenty of program records before she graduates. Claiborne showed what she can do during the four-set win against Conroe Covenant Nov. 4. In the final set, she scored 11 of her team’s 25 points en route to the victory.
“She’s a young sophomore,” Sawyer said. “And it’s a lot on her shoulders, and so hopefully I can help teach her how to take over and how to make this game her own because when she does, it’s a whole new ballgame. Having Ella move to outside hitter is phenomenal. I think she’s done a great job. I’m so proud of her; she’s worked hard.”
She added that junior hitter Kerrington Silvers and sophomore middle blocker Elizabeth Neely, who split her time between the varsity and junior varsity, also played big roles this season.
“I can label each person and the improvement they’ve had over the year or years,” the coach said. “It works itself out and it just is what it is. I’m just so proud of them. I know their hard work. I’m very blessed as a coach to be at the school with these girls.”
She believes one big reason for the team’s success this season is because of the deep friendships throughout the roster.
“I had a parent say they like the way they are with each other,” Sawyer said. “It’s much more tighter than previous teams they have seen. When they’re faced with adversity, they’ve overcome it and they’ve done better. Each year, the girls are putting in the work, I’m putting in the work, and it’s making a difference. You can tell the fruits of their labor is being handed to us from doing all this stuff, so it makes it bittersweet. I’m going to miss these girls a lot, but I’m so glad I have most of them for next year.”
CAPTION: Head coach Erin Sawyer has transformed Faith Academy volleyball through the years thanks to her consistency in working with the players from the junior high through their high school years. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
