Albany head coach Denney Faith said he was pleased with the effort and physical play his team showed in last Friday’s scrimmage against Coleman, though there are still plenty of areas to sharpen as the season draws closer.
“We were physical,” Faith said. “I thought our conditioning was further along than I expected, and I was pleased with the way we executed without any turnovers.”
The Albany Lady Lions were back on the road Tuesday, Aug. 19, traveling to Eastland for their third match of the season. The night ended in straight-set losses for both varsity and junior varsity, but head coach MJ Reneau said the games were another important step in the team’s growth.
Varsity fell by scores of 13–25, 7–25, 16–25, while the JV girls dropped their match 12–25, 25–20, 10–15.
Season tickets for the Albany Lions 2025 football season are now available through the Albany administration office with all prices being the same as last year.
Adult season tickets are $30 for five games with student packages costing $20. Returning ticket holders have the right to claim the same seats they had last season, but must do so through administrative assistant Lynsi Perry in the Albany ISD administration building. Season tickets cover only varsity home games.
The Albany Lions are closing out their second week of practice and will travel to Coleman tomorrow night for their first scrimmage of the season. Head Coach Denney Faith says the matchup will be an important first step in evaluating the team under game conditions.
Unexpected rain on Tuesday did not slow the Lions down. The team was able to get outside and complete its planned workouts before the weather worsened. “The field was a little muddy, but that’s good for us,” Faith said. “You never know when you’ll have to play on a wet field, so it’s good experience.”
The Albany Lady Lions volleyball team opened the 2025 regular season with back-to-back sweeps at home Tuesday, defeating Merkel 25-22, 25-23, 25-18 and Aspermont 25-17, 25-21, 25-12.
The weekend before, Albany played scrimmages against Benjamin and Breckenridge on August 8, and Woodson on August 9. Reneau said the goal was to get on the court with the new group, especially the younger players.
Hundreds of Albany Lions and Lady Lions supporters filled the Clear Fork Bank Park on Monday, August 11, for the annual ice cream supper that marks the start of the fall sports season. The long-running event once again gave the community a chance to meet the athletes and hear directly from the coaches about the year ahead.
Athletes from JV and varsity football, volleyball, cross country, and cheerleading took the stage to introduce themselves. Each coach spoke about their team’s preparations and expectations for the season.
Cool morning temperatures gave Albany football players a welcome surprise as the first official week of practice got underway. Head Coach Denney Faith said the early conditions allowed for crisp, focused workouts to start the season.
“It’s been really cooperative weather-wise,” Faith said. “We’ve had a good start.”
The Lions opened the week under UIL acclimation rules, beginning with two days in shorts before adding shoulder pads on Wednesday. Full-contact practice was expected to begin Friday.
The Albany Lady Lions officially opened the 2025 volleyball season Friday, August 1, with a full weekend of workouts, community service, and team-building activities aimed at setting the tone for a strong year.
Head Coach MJ Reneau said 20 players are out for the team this season, ensuring full JV and varsity rosters with depth. While the program has had a third team in past years, Reneau said she hopes to see continued growth to bring that back in the future.
With the return of August comes the return of football in Albany, as the Lions are set to begin their first official practice Monday morning, August 4. Head Coach Denney Faith said the team expects close to 50 players this season, slightly above average for recent years, with a varsity squad projected to number between 25 and 30.
The Lions will have experience on their side, returning seven offensive and nine defensive starters from last year’s squad. But many key positions, including quarterback, remain unsettled heading into the first week of practice.
The Albany Lady Lions volleyball team is ready to take the court for the 2025 season, with practice beginning tomorrow, Friday, August 1. Head coach MJ Reneau said she expects around 20 girls in the program this fall, with both varsity and junior varsity teams in place. In addition to the first practice, the team will volunteer at Closet Angels Friday afternoon.
