The Lady Mustangs’ excitement is contagious

The most exciting time of the season is about to start for the Marble Falls High School volleyball team.

The Lady Mustangs are in the playoffs after beating Killeen High, 3-1, Oct. 31 for fourth place.

Now they turn their attention to Dripping Springs, the District 26-4A champion, in a 7 p.m. match today in Johnson City.

Marble Falls has not beaten Dripping Springs in four seasons, though head coach Mich Robertson’s squad came close in 2006 by taking the first two sets only to lose in five. 

Two years later, the Lady Tigers are more seasoned led by four seniors. 

“They’re very sound,” Robertson said. “They serve tough.”

Blocking and recording kills down the line, considered the toughest spike to score on, is habit for Dripping Springs. 

The Lady Tigers also take advantage of free balls and will increase their tempo when they get one. 

“I think Dripping Springs is good, but we haven’t seen them play in person (this season),” Robertson said. “That probably works in our favor.”

Dripping Springs was originally aligned to continue to be in District 25-4A with Marble Falls.

But officials at Dripping Springs petitioned the University Interscholastic League to move the Tigers to another district because of travel concerns. The UIL agreed and allowed Dripping Springs to play elsewhere in every sport except football.

The reason is because the schedules had already been made and football coaches agree to play two games. 

The Lady Mustangs have a team of sophomores and juniors.  

“This will be the most pressure they ever had to face,” the coach said. 

Marble Falls was on the verge of beating Killeen in three sets but made a mistake on match point that allowed the Lady Kangaroos to take the game. 

No matter because the Lady Mustangs dug deep and went back to work en route to the victory.

“That kind of works in your favor,” Robertson said. 

Marble Falls will be led by Lauren Persyn, Kimberlin Ackerman, Allison Bendas, Chelby Lusinger and Kelly Hacker. 

Coaches plan to take players on the freshman and junior varsity squads to experience the match with the varsity players from the stands, which is great. That helps them to see the excitement and the pressure of playing in the third season. It has been four years since Marble Falls reached the playoffs.

 Fans are invited to participate in a sendoff for the squad at 4:45 p.m. today by lining U.S. 281 South.

“I think they’re excited,” she said. “I think that this situation is creating enthusiasm within the program.”

That excitement is exactly what is needed for the Lady Mustangs to build on their success with a playoff appearance.  

Photo by Jennifer Fierro