The Lady Sandie volleyball team ended their season on Nov. 7 in the regional semifinal round of playoffs with a loss to Aledo’s Lady Cats. Despite a disappointing outcome, the girls finished the game 1-3 with their final record sitting at 32-9.
With a season opening matchup against West Plains, the team started the year off strong with a 3-1 win. They then quickly moved on to tournament season, attending the Pearland John Turner Classic, Colleyville Showcase and the NISD Classic Tournament in the span of about three weeks. A matchup against Palo Duro began district play, and the Lady Sandies swept them in three sets in mid-August. This started the girls on an undefeated district run for the sixth year in a row.
“The beginning of the season is a great bonding time,” Senior Kensleigh Payne said. “We grow much closer and spend a lot of time together.”
Throughout district, the team celebrated teachers in a sweep against Plainview, showed appreciation for first responders against Lubbock High, honored their seniors versus Lubbock Coronado and raised awareness for breast cancer in a sweep of Lubbock Cooper during the last game of regular play. They even beat Tascosa twice in high tension rivalry games, once 3-1, and the second time sweeping the Lady Rebels in order to clinch the district championship once more. Overall, the Lady Sandies entered the playoffs with a district record of 16-0.
“From day one, our girls showed up with purpose, resilience, and a belief in each other that never wavered,” Head Coach Haleigh Burns said. “We learned a lot about who we were as a team, we grew through challenges, tightened our fundamentals, and fought for a season we wanted.”
The first round of playoffs matched the team up against Wichita Falls Legacy’s Lady Leopards at Childress High School. In three sets, the Lady Sandies came out on top as bi-district champs and moved onto the area round. Area had them face off against El Paso Chapin’s Lady Huskies at Seminole High School. Yet again, the team overpowered their opponents, winning 3-0 for the area championship and moving onto the regional semifinal round.
“Every match felt like a moment where our preparation, heart and chemistry came together,” Burns said.
In their last game, the team faced Aledo’s Lady Cats for the second year in a row. They had Aledo on the ropes for all four sets, leaving everything on the court. In the final set, the ball dropped and left the score at 1-3, effectively ending the Lady Sandie’s win streak and the girls’ season.
“To have something so hard to leave just goes to show how impactful it has been,” Senior Bennett Rea said. “I was devastated when we lost in such a close game but I wouldn’t trade this season for anything.”
