Lady Cubs defeat Ranger

By Sam Waller

The Albany Junior High Lady Cubs volleyball teams wrapped up their busiest week of the season Monday, Sept. 19 by  sweeping home matches against Ranger.

The Lady Cubs return to action Monday, Sept. 26 when they host Abilene Christian. The seventh grade match will start at 5:00 p.m. with the eighth grade to start at 6:00 p.m.

Since Tuesday, Sept. 13, the seventh grade team has played four matches and the eighth grade five. Both teams competed in the Hawley tournament on Saturday, Sept. 17.

Seventh Grade

The seventh grade Lady Cubs (2-5) began the busy week with a 17-25, 11-25 loss at Coleman.

At the Hawley tournament, Albany lost to Early 9-25, 8-25 before falling to Ballinger 20-25, 11-25.

Against Ranger, the Lady Cubs won 25-21, 25-19.

“It was like something finally clicked for these girls,” coach Tate Thompson said. “We were hustling around and communicating. Most importantly, we got our serves over.”

In Monday’s match, Carsyn Clegg served for 12 points. Finlee Brown added seven service points, followed by Charlee Patterson with four, Tara Cauble with two, and Charli Trail with one. Brown and Zoey George each had a kill.

Clegg served up three straight points to give Albany the lead in the first set, and the Lady Cubs scored on four of their next six service turns to lead 17-9.

In the second set, Brown and Clegg each had five-point service runs that resulted in a 22-12 lead.

“I believe playing so many games in a week’s span benefitted us,” Thompson said. “Experience is always a good teacher.”

Eighth Grade

The eighth grade Lady Cubs (3-5) picked up two wins. Albany pushed Coleman to three sets before falling 25-21, 14-25, 7-15 to start the week.

At Hawley, Albany lost to Ballinger 15-25, 18-25, then beat Early 21-25, 25-15, 15-13, before losing to Coleman 14-25, 9-25.

“The girls were a little tired after playing three times in one day, but they were doing great,” coach Elizabeth Martin said. “They were really working as a team. I think having all those games in one day showed them what they could do and how they could come together.”

Against Ranger, Albany won 25-10, 25-8. Charlee Hefner led the team with 16 service points. Tatum Grady added nine and Zayne Lefevre seven, with Ashlyn Miller and Brooke Richards getting three each. Hefner and Grady each had two aces with Lefevre and Miller adding one each. Miller and Hattie Braly each had a kill.

Albany did not rotate all the way through the lineup in either set, ending both after six service turns. Hefner ran off 12 points in the second set to put the Lady Cubs firmly in control.

“It was very nice to see the girls doing well and gaining confidence through their serves,” Martin said. “It was definitely a good game to watch.”