Burnet volleyball follows same formula for success

CAPTION: Sophomore setter Marisa Porter was one of several Lady Dawgs participating in skills work after attending summer strength and conditioning and then stayed for player-led team scrimmages. Staff photos by Jennifer Fierro

Burnet Consolidated Independent School District volleyball players enjoyed an hour of skills work following their strength and conditioning session June 8.

Then the real fun began after that when the Lady Dawgs broke into four teams to play in scrimmages.

The University Interscholastic League allows coaches one hour of skills work each day during the summer and head coach Crystal Shipley and her staff members made the time count. The players participated in plenty of skills work with the ball where they could only use their upper bodies to perform digs, then broke into smaller groups to work on passing before a player could send the ball over to the other side.

While the high school players, especially the varsity, needed little instruction, Shipley spent quite a bit of time teaching and correcting her middle school athletes on form and other basics the drills revealed to her. She pointed out she found a group of Lady Dawgs who couldn’t get enough of the instruction on how they each can improve their individual performances.

“They are eager and hungry to learn,” Shipley said, adding that she wishes she could have duplicated herself and Burnet Middle School coach Casey Schubert so they could give more individual instruction to each Lady Dawg.

She pointed out that this is the second day the Lady Dawgs have participated in volleyball skills work, so she believes as the players continue to learn the proper techniques, they’ll be able to go at a faster pace.

One of Shipley’s strengths is her ability to build strong relationships with her athletes individually. She gets to know them and their list of goals. One player, sophomore Marisa Porter, is attending numerous camps this summer where she is meeting college coaches all in an effort to land a scholarship to play on the next level. Shipley said Porter provided a summer calendar of which camps she’s attending, which means some are happening during strength and conditioning and skills work.

“Her job is to tell me about the camps, and she gives me feedback,” the coach said. “So we’re staying in touch, so she’ll miss a lot this summer.”

And Porter made it a point to attend summer strength and conditioning and the skills work afterward June 8, which illustrated plenty about her dedication to the Lady Dawgs and the program goals.

The Lady Dawgs participated in the Llano May League and many are playing club volleyball this summer.

The coach commended her players for their attendance, pointing out their presence sent a clear message to their teammates and coaches.

“That’s when chemistry is made,” Shipley said. “It’s when you tell coaches that this is important. And they’re communicating themselves, not their parents, because we’re raising them to be independent young women, and I want to hear from them.”

CAPTION: Sophomore hitter Landry Schubert was in the weight room at 7 a.m., on the court at The Doghouse at 9 a.m., and stuck around to play in scrimmages at 10 a.m.