Burnet volleyball ends first week with top 8 finish at LGE tourny
CAPTION: Peyton McCabe uses Blanco sophomore middle hitter Averie Vargas’ block against the Lady Panthers in helping the Lady Dawgs earn point and a straight sets win against Blanco Aug. 11. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography
The Burnet High School volleyball team enjoyed a terrific start to the 2026 season.
After disposing of Blanco in straight sets on the road Aug. 11, the Lady Dawgs (4-7) used that momentum to compete in the gold bracket of the LGE Varsity Tournament Aug. 13-15 hosted by Leander, Georgetown and Georgetown East View high schools.
“This 20-team tournament featured some incredibly talented programs with most of the field consisting of (Class) 5A and 6A schools,” head coach Crystal Shipley said, adding her team finished in the top eight of the tournament. “Competing in tournaments like this is exactly what we need. Playing against stellar programs and bigger schools forces our girls to play up to their potential, compete at a higher level and continue pushing themselves to get better every day.
Burnet began bracket play with a 19-25, 12-25 loss to Salado, beat North Crowley 25-18, 25-21 and lost to Leander 19-25, 25-21, 17-25.
In pool play the Lady Dawgs defeated DeSoto Kingdom Collegiate Academy 25-14, 25-19 and Austin Regents 25-17, 25-13. Losses were to Salado 19-25, 12-25, League City Clear Falls 26-24, 14-25, 16-25, Frisco Rock Hill 15-25, 8-25, and Austin St. Michaels 25-20, 21-25, 16-25.
Shipley noted her players discovered plenty throughout the tournament.
“We were able to see how we handle defeat and learn from it,” she said. “We got to play some high-level volleyball, which made us play at a much higher level. I love that the team overcame mistakes and fought till the end that last day.”
Sophomore setter Marisa Porter was named to the all-tournament team.
“Marisa was one of just 15 athletes selected from the entire 20-team tournament, an awesome accomplishment against a field filled with talented 4A, 5A and 6A programs,” the coach said.
The tournament came on the heels of demolishing Blanco 25-17, 25-3, 25-15 in the season opener.
Shipley summed up this match in two sentences.
“I was proud of how well we kept control,” she said. “Ball control was a huge part of that game.”
Burnet will travel to Copperas Cove Tuesday, Aug. 18, with the subvarsities playing at 5 p.m. and the varsity at 6 p.m. The Lady Dawgs will play in the Glen Rose Varsity Tournament Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 20-22. They begin pool play against Andrews at 9 a.m., Lubbock Cooper Liberty at 10 a.m. and Tolar at 1 p.m. all Aug. 20. Pool record will dictate who Burnet plays on day two.
“It has been an incredible start to the season, and we are excited about what is ahead,” Shipley said. “We are just getting started, and there is so much more to come.”
STATISTICS
Kills — Peyton McCabe 77, Landry Schubert 61, Taylor Smith 55, Marisa Porter 22, Brianne Hudgins 15, Kayleigh Briggs 13, Brooklynn Dawes 8, Colbie Watson 3; assists – Porter 187, Dawes 18, Lexie Clark 10, Ava Alexander 9, Abby Bennight 2, McCabe 2, Schubert 2, Brianne Smith 2, Watson 1; aces – Clark 13, Dawes 8, Schubert 7, Porter 6, Bennight 2, Alexander 1; blocks – B. Hudgins 14, Schubert 12, McCabe 6, T. Smith 6, Briggs 4, Porter 3, Dawes 2, Watson 1; digs – Alexander 80, Porter 62, Dawes 56, Bennight 27, Clark 22, Schubert 20, B. Smith 19, McCabe 17, T. Smith 12, Hudgins 5, Briggs 3, Watson 2
