No. 1 Aledo topples Granbury in straight sets

The No. 1 Aledo Ladycats volleyball team recently earned the top ranking of Class 5A Division I and hosted its next district opponent, the Granbury Lady Pirates, on the same night the No. 1-ranked football team hosted the Pirates’ football squad. Inside the gymnasium, the Ladycats used a late flurry to break away from a tight opening set and used that momentum to cruise in straight sets by a final score of 25-15, 25-11, and 25-15.

The Ladycats faced tough resistance from the visitors in the opening set of the match. Aledo overcame an early deficit as a nice two-handed push shot by Brynleigh Schneider and a thunderous kill by star senior Alyssa Todd nosed Aledo in front 7-5. The Ladycats’ lead grew to 11-6 after a kill by standout junior Kaelee Berkley and to 13-7 after a service ace by Kenley Hamilton. Despite that, though, the Lady Pirates battled back.

Granbury cut the deficit to 15-13 after using a 6-2 run to close the gap. However, Aledo made a nice adjustment from the outside pens and in the middle. Using big powerful swings on most of their attacks, the Ladycats switched to the tip that helped get Granbury off balance. Following a flurry of tips, senior middle Lily Lufkin rejected a Granbury attack for a beautiful block that pushed the lead to four points at 19-15, forcing a Granbury timeout call in the process.

After the block, senior setter Kailey Hamilton served two aces around a stuff block by Lufkin. Then, Schneider got the crowd rocking and her team energized with her next play. Schneider approached the ball, elevated skyward and cocked her right arm back for a blistering attack. She then pulverized the ball, which whizzed past a pair of outstretched arms from Granbury’s front line, and banged against the hardwood for a loud point and a 23-15 lead for Aledo. A kill by Lufkin and another Hamilton ace ended Aledo’s 10-2 closing run.

The energetic Ladycats’ fire burned brightly in the second and third sets as they closed out another dominant district victory with contributions made across the board.

Todd led the pack with 13 kills, several digs, one ace, and one block while Berkley had eight kills, six digs, and two aces. Hamilton registered 12 assists, seven digs, and five aces while Kenley Hamilton poured in a team-high 16 digs and an ace. Senior setter Sophie Frank added 18 assists and seven digs while Lufkin produced three kills and an impressive eight blocks. Payton Patrick and Karsyn Trott each had four kills and three blocks apiece while senior libero Karsyn Evans added 10 digs and two aces. Isabella Bechert served two aces and Thessalie Stuntz finished with two blocks.

In the subvarsity ranks, the Aledo JV posted a win in straight sets by a final score of 25-17 and 25-15. The ninth grade A team also won in a sweep (25-10, 25-17) as did the ninth grade B team (25-17, 25-20) to secure another program sweep.

The Ladycats (34-2, 9-0) will have their bye on Tuesday followed by a district contest on the road. Aledo will be in action next at 5 p.m. Friday at Saginaw.