Winning against Hawks is a first since 2006

The Lady Hawks were standing, waiting for someone else to react to the Lady Mustangs’ kills, tips and dumps Oct. 28. The defense was confused as to who was supposed to dig the ball.

Marble Falls led, 5-0, behind kills by Lauren Persyn and Mackenzie Tarter, a Corinne Coffey and Persyn block, and a dump by Kelly Hacker. 

The Lady Mustangs kept a lead during the first set thanks to consistent serving and other players who stepped up including Kimberlin Ackerman, Chelby Lusinger and Taylor Cameron.

Hendrickson tied the score at 15 and went on a 5-3 run to take a 20-18 lead.

But a service error and an Allison Bendas tip tied it at 20. Lusinger added a tip and an ace. After the Lady Hawks took a timeout, Hacker added a point, while Lusinger recorded a spike. The set ended on a Hawk service error to give Marble Falls a 25-21 win.

Marble Falls head coach Mich Robertson said she was proud of the way her squad competed.

“They were really exploding,” she said. “We haven’t taken a set from Hendrickson since 2006. That’s a big deal.”

The Lady Mustangs took a 4-2 lead in the second set, but Hendrickson tied it at 5. The game went back and forth with neither squad taking more than a one-point lead. After a Lusinger bump, Hendrickson finally enforced its will and went on a 13-4 run to win the second set 25-13. 

The two squads exchanged points to begin the third set. Persyn scored on a block and kill, while Coffey added a kill. 

After Hendrickson took a 12-8 lead, Marble Falls called a timeout. Bendas and Persyn each added kills and a block brought the Lady Mustangs to 11-13.

Marble Falls scored only two more points, while the Lady Hawks mixed up their attack with kills, tips and dumps to secure the game, 25-13.

The fourth set started the same as the last two with both squads matching each other point for point. Hendrickson took a lead at 5-4 and never looked back for a 25-18 match win.

The Lady Mustangs recorded 34 kills as a team. Persyn recorded 10, while Bendas added six.

“We served tough,” Robertson said. “We were on the block more than we had been this season.”

Persyn had 1.5 blocks, while Hacker added another. Hacker had 27 assists. 

The coach said the Lady Hawks have seven seniors, while Marble Falls is led by juniors and sophomores. 

“Had we maintained momentum, we could have beaten them,” she said. “We can’t be satisfied with that. We let ourselves get rattled.”

Passing was an obstacle. Marble Falls recorded a 1.8 passing percentage. Lusinger added 18 digs, while Cameron had nine. 

“Passing hurt us today,” Robertson said. “And the kids know that.”

Serving percentages for the match were 1.7 in the first set, 1.1 in the second, 1.6 in the third and 1.9 in the fourth. 

The coach said passing was not an issue in the first set because the hitters recorded points off kills, tips and hitting off the block.

One area she wants to see improve is blocking.

“We’re learning to read the other teams,” she said. 

Now Marble Falls turns its attention to a play-in against Killeen High School 7 p.m. at Georgetown High School, 2211 N. Austin Ave., Friday. 

Robertson said the keys to the match come down to which team can execute.

“We have to pass the ball well,” she said. “Play with enthusiasm, shut down their big hitters and serve tough.”

The two squads split matches in the regular season with the visiting team winning. 

“I think it should play in our favor,” the coach said. “We’ve watched film and given them scouting reports. At the end of the day, the kids have to show up and play.”

The Lady Mustangs’ excitement and enthusiasm made Robertson proud, she said. 

“One thing we’ve been talking about was pushing through adversity,” she said. “They’re starting to believe that a little bit. Let’s start a tradition of playoff berths for Marble Falls volleyball.”