Burnet volleyball finishes second at Llano tourney

CAPTION: Senior outside hitter Journey Denton gets this ball over the Graham block during the first contest between the two teams at the Lady Jacket Classic Aug. 15. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Burnet High School volleyball team took second place at the Lady Jacket Classic hosted by Llano High School Aug. 15-16.

The Lady Dawgs defeated Junction 25-5, 25-22, District 24-4A rival Lampasas 25-23, 25-15, Llano 22-25, 25-13, 25-22, the Copperas Cove junior varsity 25-10, 25-11, and Llano a second time.

They lost to Graham twice: 19-25, 19-25 and 23-25, 23-25.

Freshman Landry Schubert and sophomore Brooklynn Dawes were chosen to the all-tournament team.

“We are so proud of them and their performance in their very first varsity tournament,” head coach Crystal Shipley said.

Shipley was equally enthusiastic about her team’s overall performances during the two-day event, pointing out setters Dawes and Marisa Porter, a freshman, are spreading the ball to their teammates throughout the court, which is keeping opponents guessing at who’s getting the ball.

The setters may have a quick set to the middle, setting up freshman Taylor Smith or senior Wrigley Mulhollan. Or they can go to the outside where seniors Grace Cullison and Journey Denton and juniors Peyton McCabe and Brianne Smith are waiting to unleash a powerful swing or a directional tip or a dink to earn the point.

Defensive specialists Peyton Allen and Sarah Cullison, who are seniors, junior Cali Eason, sophomore Lexie Clark and senior libero Payton Smith were tough on the back row, digging balls that looked like winners and making solid passes to the setters to get the offense going.

Shipley called it “good balance” with the seniors and freshmen.

“The freshmen are athletic enough to play up,” she said, adding the seniors have the leadership and maturity to exemplify inclusion on the floor, in the locker room and everywhere the Lady Dawgs gather. That is a big key to the girls athletic program’s success and a pillar of Shipley’s, who serves as the girls athletic coordinator.

“This senior group leads nicely,” she said.

The Lady Dawgs (6-2) are at least two deep in every position, and there’s not much drop-off when a reserve checks in for a starter. While each player has a unique role that she plays, Shipley said she wants her players to be focused on playing freely and making plays to earn points.

“Not worry so much about making mistakes,” she said. “With our depth, I see them worried about ‘I’m going to be replaced if I mess up.’ I think that’s mostly the mental. They want to please me. I want them to stop worrying about pleasing me and worry more about competing. They’re so sweet, and I know they want to win.”

Burnet welcomes Copperas Cove Tuesday, Aug. 19, with the subvarsities playing at 5 p.m. and the varsity to follow at 6 p.m.

CAPTION: Junior Peyton McCabe (left) and freshman Taylor Smith throw up a block and send the ball right back to Graham. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro