The Brownwood Lady Lions opened the Heart of Texas volleyball tournament with a three-match sweep Thursday at Warren Gym, defeating Bangs, Brady and Richland Springs in pool play and evening their overall record at 5-5.
Brownwood’s performance improved as the day progressed. The Lady Lions began with a competitive victory over Bangs before producing more decisive results against Brady and Richland Springs. Tournament play will continue Saturday, when the gold and silver brackets are finalized following Friday’s action.
Brownwood holds off Bangs in the opener
Brownwood defeated Bangs 25-19, 25-23, but the second set became a test of the Lady Lions’ ability to close out a match. Brownwood held a 19-13 lead before Bangs rallied to move ahead 22-21. A Bangs hitting error tied the set at 22, and Kimber McLean followed with a kill to put Brownwood in front for good at 23-22. With the Lady Lions leading 24-23, Bangs sent a spike beyond the back line, giving Brownwood the two-point win.
The first set was tied at 13 before Brownwood scored seven consecutive points. McLean’s serving helped fuel the run, while Demayha Hooker, Ashantia Green and Camryn Gipson provided play at the net. Bangs narrowed the margin to 21-18 but could not get closer.
For Bangs, Ashlynn Sliger had three kills. Adelynne Stephens, Cameryn Harmon, Cricket Caulkins and Adaline Gregory each recorded an ace. Harmon and Karlyee Sliger had two blocks apiece, while Ashlynn Sliger added one. Caulkins, Gregory and Karylee Sliger each recorded two digs; Stephens, Harmon, Ashlynn Sliger and Lily Boren had one apiece.
Lady Lions control matches against Brady and Richland Springs
Brownwood’s second match ended in a 25-11, 25-7 victory over Brady. The Lady Lions built a 12-3 lead in the opening set and began the second with a 14-1 advantage.
Hooker put Brownwood ahead 3-2 with a kill, and Jordan Brixey’s ace made it 9-3. Another Hooker kill completed a 10-1 run and extended the lead to 12-3. After a short Brady surge, Lexi Driskill’s kill gave Brownwood a 17-7 advantage. Gipson’s kill made the score 23-9, and a block from Chandler followed by another Hooker kill finished the set.
Brownwood scored 14 of the first 15 points in the final set. Abby Brasher ended the match with an ace, and Brady never came within 11 points after the Lady Lions’ early run.
The tournament-opening day concluded with Brownwood’s 25-12, 25-9 win over Richland Springs. The Lady Lions took a 12-1 lead in the first set and a 10-1 lead in the second, controlling the match from the start.
Hooker had five kills in the first set, with Chandler, Green, Gipson and Driskill also contributing at the net. Driskill served two aces, and Brasher added one. In the second set, Adyn Lucas served three consecutive aces and also had a kill. Driskill and Brixey added aces, while Chandler and Green supplied Brownwood’s primary offensive production at the net.
Coach points to depth and focus
Head coach Kristen Grimes, in her second year leading the Lady Lions, said the team’s early struggles Thursday provided an opportunity to improve. She said Brownwood needed to stay in control of its side of the court and avoid allowing opponents to dictate the team’s play.
“We started off really slow in the morning, I’m learning we don’t really play well in the morning so that’s something we have to work on as a team, but we really focused today on being in control of our side and not letting the other side dictate how we’re playing on our side,”
Grimes also said the team is still learning how to play together. She described the group as capable of becoming overly playful but said the goal is to combine that enjoyment with concentration. The coach said the team handled that balance during the final two matches and identified mistakes that can be corrected.
“This group has a tendency to get a little silly at times, and I’m all about the fun, but we need to be fun and focused. We did that last two matches, we held our own with some hiccups here and there, but we’re brand new of kids working together and it’s good to find those now so we can fix them.”
One of the day’s most encouraging developments, Grimes said, was the impact of players entering from the bench. She said the non-starters were effective contributors and helped keep the team’s level of play steady when substitutions were needed.
“I really liked how our non-starters are coming in and being an effective member of the team. If someone’s not doing well I know I can count on the kids coming off the bench to come in and get the job done, and the level of play doesn’t change. They’re coming in and continuing to make a difference and bringing something to the court.”
Brownwood will return to tournament action Saturday. The final bracket assignments will be determined after Friday’s matches, with gold- and silver-bracket play scheduled to be completed that day.