Burnet volleyball tests toughness with drills, running
CAPTION: Alexis Clark sets the ball to a teammate during a ball control and communication drill. Staff photos by Jennifer Fierro
The first day of two-a-days for the Burnet High School volleyball program began with a test Aug. 1.
At 6:30 a.m., the Lady Dawgs were at Bulldog Field running a timed mile, 40-yard dashes, bleaches and 5-10-5 shuttle runs.
“The mile is always something we do as more of a fitness and toughness test,” head coach Crystal Shipley said. “You can tell really quick who hasn’t done much in the summer with the mile run. The 40s are a timed measure we test throughout the year with all of our athletes. We want to see the times drop each time we test. The shuttle runs allow us to see the athletes change direction and how quick they can move in short distances like the volleyball court.”
After the players finished the outdoors part they took a break. At 12:30 p.m., they met at The Doghouse gymnasium for skills work. Coaches set up two nets to divide the floor into two courts where different ages and positions were mixed to form four teams. Much of that session was devoted to ball control drills coupled with communication.
As the athletes played, Shipley and her assistant coaches walked around the gym taking notes on what they saw.
“We really were pleased with the overall results of the day,” the coach said. “We got a lot accomplished and the girls never let up. Ball control and communication are huge for us right now. We are pushing hard on these skills to get it consistent from the middle school up. It is such a vital part of having a successful program.”
She made it clear the Lady Dawgs are going to be trained to play in more than position or on the front or back rows. And Shipley noted why dating back to the end of the 2025 season when the Lady Dawgs lost to China Spring 1-3 in the bi-district round of the Class 4A Division I playoffs.
“Something that has been embedded in my brain since the end of last season is that we ran out of subs in the first set of the bi-district game against China Spring (a 27-29 loss),” she said. “When that happened, some of the girls had to play in positions they were not comfortable with and the momentum shifted quickly and that first set loss was a major factor in how that match ended. I blame myself for that. I will not make that mistake again and make sure my girls are ready for that scenario if it ever comes up again.”
Though last season ended much earlier than the Lady Dawgs wanted, the team went 26-10 overall, 8-4 in District 24-4A play to finish third overall. Six players graduated and Burnet will lean on several returners including seniors Ava Alexander, Cali Eason and Brianne Smith, juniors Alexis Clark and Brooklynn Dawes, and sophomores Marisa Porter, Landry Schubert and Taylor Smith.
Burnet will travel to Stephenville for scrimmages Saturday, Aug. 8, and begin the season at Blanco Tuesday, Aug. 11, with the subvarsities playing at 5 p.m. and the varsity to follow at 6 p.m.
CAPTION: Kayleigh Briggs knows what to do at the net.
