Albany girls to start district play on Saturday

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions volleyball team enjoyed another successful week as the start of district play neared, winning a pair of four-set matches against Snyder and De Leon.

The Lady Lions (15-7)closed out nondistrict play on Tuesday, Sept. 20 with a 25-18, 25-13, 25-11 win over Strawn at home. Details will be reported next week.

Albany opens District 6-2A play Saturday, Sept. 24 at Bangs.

On Tuesday, Sept. 13, Albany outlasted Snyder 25-23, 28-26, 27-29, 25-15 at Snyder. Kiana Roberson had 20 kills and a block, while Abi Hale recorded 34 assists. Robin Lucas led Albany with 27 digs with Gracie Price adding 13 and Hale 11.

“This was a huge week for us, especially with the scores against Snyder,” Lady Lions coach M.J. Reneau said. “The girls were exhausted after that game – that was a lot of volleyball – then we had a long practice Thursday. I gave them Friday off hoping they could recuperate and get back out here, and I thought they did a great job.”

On Saturday, Sept. 17, the Lady Lions turned back De Leon 25-13, 25-16, 22-25, 25-19 at home. Roberson had 14 kills and two blocks with Hale making 23 assists. Lucas had 29 digs, Roberson 18, and Hale 11.

“We lost that third set because we weren’t attacking; then we got down in the fourth set,” Reneau said. “That was a good situation for us, especially going into district. We can reflect on that now, and we also see how important serving is. It was good to have a few lessons in that game but also come back and be able to win it.”

The first set against was tied 6-6 before Albany pulled away with a 14-3 run. The Lady Lions scored the first five points of the second set and never trailed.

The third set saw six ties, the last at 21-21, and five lead changes as De Leon extended the match. The Lady Bearcats maintained the momentum early in the fourth set, leading 15-5.

The margin was still seven when Hale served nine consecutive points to give Albany the lead. Caroline Chapman followed with four service points to bring the Lady Lions to match point.

Nine Albany players had kills in the match.

“I felt like everyone contributed to the win,” Reneau said. “We were even attacking well on the back row. It was a whole team effort.”

albany VS. SNYDER

PLAYER Serves Aces Kills Digs Blks Asst

R.Lucas 10 - 1 27 - -

G.Price 7 1 - 13 - -

C.Edgar 6 1 3 7 - 1

E.Webb 3 1 2 3 - -

A.Hale 26 3 4 11 - 34

C.Chapman 12 - 1 4 - -

By.Abbate - - 1 4 - -

C.Holson 13 1 7 5 1 -

K.Roberson 12 2 20 9 1 -

Bk.Abbate 1 1 - 1 - -

albany VS. DE LEON

PLAYER Serves Aces Kills Digs Blks Asst

R.Lucas 10 - 2 29 - -

G.Price 5 - 1 9 - -

C.Edgar - - 1 6 1 3

E.Webb 5 1 3 3 - -

A.Hale 23 6 3 11 2 23

C.Chapman 16 1 1 5 - -

By.Abbate - - 2 2 - -

C.Holson 12 4 3 8 1 -

K.Roberson 10 1 14 18 2 -

Bk.Abbate - - - 1 - -

Junior Varsity

Albany’s JV1 split its matches for the week, falling 10-25, 10-25 at Snyder before sweeping De Leon 25-19, 25-21.

The expected JV2 match against Snyder did not materialize, leaving the second JV idle since Aug. 17.

Against De Leon, JV1 held on in a tight second set that saw four lead changes and seven ties, the last at 19-19.

Mimi Ivy served up five straight points with a pair of aces as Albany turned an 8-12 deficit into a 14-12 lead, then knocked down the kill to put the Lady ­Lions ahead to stay at 20-19.