Burnet volleyball turns attention to playoffs

CAPTION: Burnet freshman middle blocker Landy Schubert has at least 100 blocks in a single season, which is a new program record. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Burnet High School volleyball team will face China Spring in a bi-district championship at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at Georgetown High School to begin the Class 4A Division I playoffs. Buy tickets here.

The Lady Dawgs beat Johnson City 25-15, 15-12, 23-25, 25-15 Oct. 27 to finish the regular season with a 26-9 overall record and 8-4 in District 24-4A play for third place.

“I’m incredibly proud of the fight and growth our girls have shown through the second round of district play,” head coach Crystal Shipley said. “They are ready for the third chapter of the season — playoffs.”

Burnet lost to Georgetown Gateway 25-15, 25-21, 17-25, 17-25, 8-15 Oct. 24 to finish the district campaign.

“After taking the first two sets, the Lady Dawgs fought hard but couldn’t quite hang on to the rhythm, falling in a tough five-set match,” Shipley said. “We just played well and pretty clean. Gateway had more errors which helped, but our girls played together and didn’t play scared to lose. Our block was very present, which was huge, but our defense as a whole played awesome and allowed us to keep a fast offense in the first two sets.”

The district race was loaded with strong players and brilliant coaches. Salado, which was ranked No. 10 in the Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 4A poll, won the district crown by going 12-0, while Gateway, which is No. 21, finished 10-2.

“We proved we could play with those two teams, especially in the second round of district,” Shipley said. “Our girls have shown the most growth I believe. That is the main thing a coach wants from a team – growth. Wins are great, but I want to see my team grow together and be better than they were at the start. They have done just that. They are peaking at the right time, and I believe we can make a great run in the playoffs as well. I am thankful that Salado and Gateway have made us better and more prepared for the postseason.”

Shipley will guide her seventh Burnet team into the playoffs.

“We have to relax, have fun and be confident in our game plan,” she said. “Every day is extra and we will work to earn every day. With a division one and two split, it can make round one more difficult. It just depends where those teams line up in their district alignment and numbers. For sure, it is a culture now. (My players) will tell you there is an expectation, and they know it in middle school. This team is ready to write their story and I am ready to watch it unfold – it has potential to be a great one.”  

Both Burnet junior varsity teams won their matches against Gateway.

“We couldn’t be prouder of these JV groups — finishing second in district,” Shipley said. “That doesn’t even begin to show the heart, effort and growth they’ve displayed from start to finish. Watching them compete, learn and love the game this season has been such a joy.”

The Lady Dawgs defeated Austin St. Michael’s 25-12, 22-25, 27-25, 25-23 Oct. 21 in a non-district match.

“It was the perfect game to fill an open spot — and definitely one that made us better,” Shipley said .

The junior varsity green won in two sets and the junior varsity white “battled hard but came up short in three,” she added.

STATISTICS

For Oct. 21-24

Kills – Grace Cullison 24, Peyton McCabe 22, Journey Denton 13, Taylor Smith 11, Marisa Porter 7, Wrigley Mulhollan 5, Landry Schubert 3, Payton Smith 2, Sarah Cullison 1; assists – Porter 38, Brooklynn Dawes 32, P. Smith 7, Denton 2, Lexie Clark 1, McCabe 1, Mulhollan 1; aces – Clark 2, G. Cullison 2, Denton 2, Dawes 1, Porter 1; digs – Denton 43, P. Smith 41, Porter 27, Dawes 20, Peyton Allen 13, S. Cullison 10, G. Cullison 6, T. Smith 6, Mulhollan 5, McCabe 3, Schubert 1; blocks – Mulhollan 8, Schubert 8, T. Smith 6, Clark 4, McCabe 4, G. Cullison 2, Denton 2, Porter 1

CAPTION: Sophomore Brooklynn Dawes has recorded more than 70 aces in a season for a new program record. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro