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Photo by Nicole Flowers
September 24, 2024
Bandera volleyball turns focus to district play
By Brady Keane
The Bandera Prophet
The Bandera volleyball team embraced a tough challenge on the road Friday night, taking on Class 6A San Antonio Marshall through three competitive sets while ultimately falling 20-25, 17-25, 18-25.
Jayla Blake (nine kills and seven digs), Kinlee Lawlis (nine kills and three digs), Ally Kline (21 assists, four digs and one ace), Jessi Battle (two aces, two kills, one block, one dig), Taylor Hamilton (four kills, two blocks, one dig), Taytum Moeller (nine digs and two assists) and Sydney Moore (three kills, one block) were among the leader for the Bulldogs, who fell to 12-17 on the season with the loss.
“Our serve-receive progressive got better each set,” Bandera Head Coach Tisha Pettibon said. “They had a very quick offense and a huge block, and that was very good for us to see prior to district starting. Our team stayed composed while working through some different lineups, and that was good to see as well.”
Bandera has shown marked improvement over the course of the season since battling a handful of key injuries early in the year, and the Bulldogs will have one more pre-district tune up at home Tuesday against Leakey.
Bandera is set to open district play on the road against Davenport on Thursday nightt. The Wolves are the defending Class 4A state champions, and are 25-7 so far this year. Against common opponents, Bandera is 0-3 with early August losses to Industrial (2-0, 2-0) and Marion (3-2). Davenport defeated Industrial 2-0 and 2-1 in tournament play later in August, and will play Marion on Tuesday before opening district play.
Davenport is one of four District 26-4A teams that will enter district play with a winning record, joining Wimberley (26-2), Navarro (21-11) and Canyon Lake (16-13). Fredericksburg is sitting at 12-15 on the season.
The Bulldogs hope to surprise the current frontrunners, aiming to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
“Everyone has a fresh start because we’re all 0-0 in district,” Pettibon said. “It’s get to have a state-ranked team first because it’s going to tell us a lot about where we are right now. Playing Marshall was a good test because they had a good setter and a fast offense - it gave us a good look at those same things we’ll see in district. The biggest key for us will be hitting our serving, passing and hitting percentage goals every night.”
Jayla Blake (nine kills and seven digs), Kinlee Lawlis (nine kills and three digs), Ally Kline (21 assists, four digs and one ace), Jessi Battle (two aces, two kills, one block, one dig), Taylor Hamilton (four kills, two blocks, one dig), Taytum Moeller (nine digs and two assists) and Sydney Moore (three kills, one block) were among the leader for the Bulldogs, who fell to 12-17 on the season with the loss.
“Our serve-receive progressive got better each set,” Bandera Head Coach Tisha Pettibon said. “They had a very quick offense and a huge block, and that was very good for us to see prior to district starting. Our team stayed composed while working through some different lineups, and that was good to see as well.”
Bandera has shown marked improvement over the course of the season since battling a handful of key injuries early in the year, and the Bulldogs will have one more pre-district tune up at home Tuesday against Leakey.
Bandera is set to open district play on the road against Davenport on Thursday nightt. The Wolves are the defending Class 4A state champions, and are 25-7 so far this year. Against common opponents, Bandera is 0-3 with early August losses to Industrial (2-0, 2-0) and Marion (3-2). Davenport defeated Industrial 2-0 and 2-1 in tournament play later in August, and will play Marion on Tuesday before opening district play.
Davenport is one of four District 26-4A teams that will enter district play with a winning record, joining Wimberley (26-2), Navarro (21-11) and Canyon Lake (16-13). Fredericksburg is sitting at 12-15 on the season.
The Bulldogs hope to surprise the current frontrunners, aiming to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
“Everyone has a fresh start because we’re all 0-0 in district,” Pettibon said. “It’s get to have a state-ranked team first because it’s going to tell us a lot about where we are right now. Playing Marshall was a good test because they had a good setter and a fast offense - it gave us a good look at those same things we’ll see in district. The biggest key for us will be hitting our serving, passing and hitting percentage goals every night.”