The Albany Lady Lions opened district play on a strong note Tuesday night, sweeping the Abilene TLCA Lady Eagles in three sets (25-16, 25-10, 25-19). The road win marked a critical momentum shift for the varsity team following a difficult loss over Homecoming weekend to Veribest.

“I thought our transition was spot on,” said Head Coach MJ Reneau. “It’s something we’ve really been working on, and it gave us so many opportunities to attack. The girls made adjustments without hesitation, and our chemistry and confidence are right where they need to be.”

The Albany Lions rolled to a commanding 69-6 victory over the Seymour Panthers on the road Friday night, backed by a relentless ground attack and a suffocating defense.

Albany amassed 500 yards of total offense, including 399 rushing yards, while holding Seymour to just 15 rushing yards and forcing four turnovers. The win moved the Lions to 3-0 on the season heading into homecoming week.

The Albany Lady Lions varsity team faced two home challenges this past week, falling to Newcastle on Saturday and Strawn on Tuesday but showing key signs of progress as they gear up for district.

Against Newcastle on Sept. 13, Albany dropped the match in four sets (21-25, 26-24, 16-25, 17-25). Head coach MJ Reneau said the team’s offensive execution stood out despite the loss.

“Our serve receive was a little off, but we turned nearly every ball into an attack,” she said. “That kind of growth is huge for us going into district.”

For the second week in a row, the Albany Lions earned a 21-7 victory over a rival opponent—this time shutting down the Hawley Bearcats in a defensive showcase at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.

The Lions defense played a pivotal role, recording six sacks, two takeaways, and two defensive scores. A blocked punt led to a special teams touchdown, while Mason McCloy returned an interception for a pick-six, giving Albany a momentum swing that carried throughout the game.

The Albany Lady Lions hosted Class 4A Snyder on Tuesday, Sept. 9, and despite falling in four sets, head coach MJ Reneau said the match offered valuable experience for her team as they prepare for district play.

“I’m taking nothing but positivity away from tonight,” Reneau said. “Snyder challenged us in areas we haven’t been challenged yet—fast middle hits, tough serves. We were missing one of our starters due to illness, and some of our JV girls stepped up and did a tremendous job.”

It had been 626 days since Adam Hill last played in a football game—his final snap for Albany coming in the 2023 state championship at AT&T Stadium on December 14, 2023. A monumental piece of the Lions’ back-to-back title runs in 2022 and 2023, Hill helped lead Albany to consecutive state championships with his toughness, versatility, and relentless work ethic. On Saturday, he finally returned to the field, suiting up for his first college game with the Texas Tech Red Raiders in their season opener against Arkansas–Pine Bluff.

The Albany Lions opened their 2025 football season with a 21-7 home victory over longtime rival Stamford on Friday, August 29, in front of a large crowd at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.

The game was tight through three quarters, with the Lions and Bulldogs tied at 7 entering the fourth. But Albany’s defense set the tone early and never let up. The Lions held Stamford to under 20 yards of total offense in the first half and only 155 yards for the entire game.

The Albany Lady Lions wrapped up tournament season by hosting their annual varsity volleyball tournament August 28–30. The event featured 12 teams from across Class 1A to Class 4A, bringing strong competition to Albany for three full days of play.

Varsity pool play took place Thursday, with Albany competing in a three-team bracket alongside Comanche and Rotan. The Lady Lions fell in both matches, with early errors proving costly.

The annual Labor Day Tournament at Albany Golf Club brought 26 teams to the course on Saturday and Sunday, August 30–31. Play went smoothly on the opening day, but severe weather on Sunday morning forced officials to shorten rounds for two flights before conditions improved for the afternoon groups.

Saturday’s first round featured clear skies and steady play across all flights. After finishing their rounds, players and guests gathered in the clubhouse for a meal and raffle prizes, a long-standing tradition of the event.

Young girls who participated in Albany’s summer cheer camp had the chance to take the field Friday night during halftime of the Lions’ varsity football game against Stamford.

Wearing red and white and led by Albany junior high and high school cheerleaders, the group performed a routine that included cheers, chants, and a dance they learned during the annual camp held earlier this summer. The performance marked the first time the campers were featured during halftime of a varsity game at Faith Field.