Burnet volleyball’s pre-district displays why Lady Dawgs succeed
CAPTION: Burnet senior hitter Peyton McCabe uses a fist to get the ball over the net and over the heads of the Lady Buffs. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography
The Burnet High School volleyball team is in the final week of pre-district season before starting the District 25-4A campaign and the Lady Dawgs are using every bit productively.
Burnet, which is ranked in the Class 4A poll of the Texas Girls Coaches Association, welcomes Gatesville Tuesday, Sept. 15, with the subvarsities playing at 5 p.m. and the varsity at 6 p.m.
The Lady Dawgs already have 20 wins this season and barely exceeded the double-digit loss mark, illustrating once more so much that’s hard to ignore – their commitment to preparation, relentless pursuit of their goals, and the ability to finish when it matters most.
Their latest victory came against Florence 25-19, 25-11, 25-17 Sept. 8 in the evening’s final match of the night. The varsity simply added the third win after both junior varsity teams collected victories over the Lady Buffs.
“Our girls earned a clean program sweep against Florence,” head coach Crystal Shipley said.
The victory was a bounceback after losing to Troy in three sets Sept. 4. But more than that, the Lady Dawgs displayed something else. It marked the second consecutive home match they won in straight sets. The other victory came against Fredericksburg Sept. 1. Before that, they defeated stubborn Johnson City in five sets Aug. 25 where they had to win the final two sets to win the match. That came on the heels of losing to Copperas Cove at home in five games Aug. 18 after Burnet led 2-1 going into the fourth set.
The Copperas Cove loss was in the midst of a four-match losing skid. But the victories against Johnson City and Fredericksburg came during a 13-match winning streak.
Seniors Ava Alexander and Abby Bennight explained what makes the Burnet volleyball program, which is seeking its 14th consecutive trip to the postseason, so successful.
“I feel like all of us just work throughout the year,” Alexander said. “Most of us play club but even the ones that don’t, we show up to every practice and open gym just to keep practicing, so we can all get better together. We still show up for each other.”
“I just think coach Shipley gives us a lot of opportunities to work,” Bennight said. “So we don’t just stay off (the court); we work year around.”
The two also credited assistant coaches Brent Kelley and Treasure Ellerbe, who also “show up” for the players and the program like the head coach does. And that can be from how practices are conducted and the high standards of the program to being encouraging and having the right words at the right time to help push the players to be better.
“They’ve done a really great job,” Alexander said. “They show us how we need to be and how much it really does do for us. And it makes us better for our teammates, not just for ourselves.”
“It shows us that they care,” Bennight said.
The district has changed some. While Salado and Taylor are no longer members, Lago Vista is returning. Other members are Georgetown Gateway, Jarrell, Lampasas and Marble Falls. The other change is they are in Class 4A Region IV instead of Region III.
“I’m just excited to see where it will take us,” Alexander said.
“Yeah,” Bennight said. “I think we’ll have a good outcome this season if we’ll just keep working. I feel like we’ll do the best we can. We’ll be OK.”
Another big reason for continued success? The play of the junior varsity and freshmen. The two competed in the program’s Burnet Classic Tournament during the weekend and both played for the tournament championship in each of their divisions. The JV lost in three to Liberty Hill Legacy Ranch and the freshmen lost to Copperas Cove.
Shipley pointed out this event doesn’t happen without several people donating their time, businesses donating their goods and Ellerbe and Kelley coaching their teams to success.
“Our girls helped set up and clean up daily and should not go unnoticed,” she said. “Volleyball requires a lot of set up and take down every day. They all stayed to make sure everything was put away and all trash was picked up out of the bleachers. Our varsity girls were amazing running the courts and stepping in as line judges. Even some of our JV girls helped out after they were finished playing. I can’t thank everyone enough.”
Burnet travels to Salado Thursday, Sept. 17, for its final non-district match and to Jarrell Tuesday, Sept. 22, to begin district play with the subvarsities playing at 5 p.m. and the varsity at 6 p.m.
CAPTION: Burnet junior Brooklynn Dawes fills many roles for her team thanks to her ability to hit, block, pass and serve. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography
