Burnet volleyball gets first win in three years against Marble Falls
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — The Burnet High School volleyball team came to Marble Falls on Aug. 13 with a new head coach and looking to end three straight years of losses to the Lady Mustangs.
It took five sets, but the Lady Dawgs prevailed, winning 25-23, 17-25, 25-23, 19-25 and 15-10 to begin their season with a victory.
“It was double exciting for me,” Burnet head coach Salye Coles said.
In addition to losing to Burnet, the Lady Mustangs also fell to Fredericksburg 10-25, 16-25, 13-25 earlier in the day.
To Coles, the match against Marble Falls gave a glimpse of what has been on the hearts of her players for several months. Last season, the Lady Dawgs didn’t qualify for the playoffs for the first time in five years.
“I think the Burnet girls are hungry and determined, and they love each other,” she said. “I think the combination of all that, and they had the drive to get through when it got critical.”
The contest was a typical grudge match between two rivals. Neither team ran away from the other. But Marble Falls suffered through service errors in the first and third sets, both won by Burnet.
In the second and fourth sets, the Lady Mustangs had at least a seven-point lead. Senior outside hitter Amanda Thomas served the last two points of the fourth game to even the match.
Burnet took control of the fifth set when it led 9-8, winning the six of the final eight points.
Marble Falls head coach Julie Downs said her squad knows what needs to be done but is still learning how to close out an opponent.
Coles said she thought her squad won the majority of the long rallies.
Winning long points does several things for a team, Coles said.
“You put all that energy in it, and you lose the long rallies,” she said. “It’s a double whammy, and it carries right over into the next point and helps you build momentum.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com
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Burnet High School defensive specialist Sami Hogan (center) digs the ball to keep a rally going.
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Burnet High School libero Danielle Lindley (in white) passes the ball.
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Marble Falls High School setter Haley Coulter (center) sets up a teammate for a kill.
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Marble Falls middle blocker Makenzie Carpenter (right, back) challenges Burnet’s Cassidy Connolly (left, back) at the net.
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ON OFFENSE: (Against Burnet) Kills – Taylor Brackenridge 10, Makenzie Carpenter 7, Amanda Thomas 7, Hanna Wall 5, Haley Coulter 4, Lacie Long 2, Maddie Johnson 1, Shelbi Wyatt 1; assists – Coulter 24, Johnson 13; aces – Long 6, Brackenridge 4, Thomas 3, Amber Clark 3, Wall 1. (Against Fredericksburg) Kills – Brackenridge 5, Thomas 3, Wall 2; assists – Coulter 5, Long 3; aces – Brackenridge 1, Johnson 1, Carpenter 1
ON DEFENSE: (Against Burnet) Digs – Long 26, Wyatt 8, Brackenridge 3, Wall 2, Johnson 2; blocks – Carpenter 3, Thomas 2, Coulter 2, Wall 1. (Against Fredericksburg) Digs – Johnson 4, Long 3, Wyatt 2; blocks – Carpenter 3, Thomas 1, Wall 1
SUBVARSITY: Marble Falls junior varsity lost to Burnet 23-25, 15-25 and to Fredericksburg 19-25, 18-25. Marble Falls freshmen beat Burnet 16-25, 25-23 and 25-18 and Fredericksburg 25-16 and 25-15.
RECORDS: Marble Falls is 0-2; Burnet is 1-0; Fredericksburg is 1-0.
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Marble Falls and Burnet at Wimberley’s Tex Fest Tournament on Aug. 16-17. Marble Falls vs. St. Michael’s at 10 a.m., Smithville at noon and Uvalde at 2 p.m. Burnet vs. La Vernia at 9 a.m., Canyon Lake at noon and Comfort at 1 p.m. Matches at Wimberley High School, 100 Carney Lane in Wimberley.
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