Johnson County volleyball roundup for Aug. 9

Aug. 10—The 2022 Texas high school volleyball season tipped off in full force Tuesday night. Results for Johnson County teams:

Cleburne swept in opener at Forney

The Cleburne Lady Jackets dropped their season opener Tuesday at Forney in straight sets.

Forney took the opening game, 25-12, then grabbed a 2-0 lead in the match with a commanding 25-9 win in the second set before finishing off the sweep with a 25-14 victory in the third.

The Lady Jackets enter this season with only one experienced varsity returner in Tru Collup. Kaysen Lanciano was on the varsity roster last season but was a backup to all-district libero Marissa Bosher and didn't play extensively, while Alexis Staton and Mariela Garcia each split time between the junior varsity and varsity roster a year ago. Beyond those four players, the Lady Jackets will be relying on an extremely young and untested lineup in 2022.

Lanciano led Cleburne defensively Tuesday with 14 digs.

Cleburne is set to compete in the Crowley Tournament Thursday through Saturday. In pool play action Thursday, the Lady Jackets will face Nimitz at 9:30 a.m. and Azle at 2 p.m.

Grandview edges Alvarado in 5

The Grandview Lady Zebras outlasted the Alvarado Lady Indians, 3-2, in a five-set, season-opening battle Tuesday night.

After Alvarado claimed the first set with a 26-24 win, Grandview bounced back with wins of 25-16 and 25-21 to grab a 2-1 lead. Alvarado forced a fifth set with a 25-22 win in game 4. Then the Lady Zebras took the decisive fifth set, 15-12, for a 1-0 start in 2022.

Reigning All-Johnson County co-MVPs picked up where they left off last season as setter Kenzi Williamson and outside hitter Shelby Martin got off to solid starts to the season. Williamson directed Grandview's offense with 43 assists and added 14 digs defensively while Martin led the Lady Zebra offensive attack with 16 kills. Olivia Bauerschlag added 14 digs and five aces while London Helm had three big blocks.

The season-opening showdown between the Lady Zebras and Lady Indians had a couple interesting aspects on the sideline as Makayla Good, Alvarado's new head volleyball coach, led her Lady Indians against Grandview where her husband, Riley Good, is the Zebras' head baseball coach. And Allie Prewitt, a former all-district and All-Johnson County volleyball player for Grandview, made her coaching debut as an assistant coach for Alvarado.

Alvarado will participate in the Castleberry Tournament Thursday and Saturday while Grandview is scheduled to compete in the Crowley Tournament.

Joshua sweeps Paschal

The Joshua Lady Owls opened their season with a 3-0 victory over Fort Worth Paschal on Tuesday for a 1-0 start to their season.

Joshua recorded the straight-set sweep with wins of 25-22, 25-20 and 25-21.

The Lady Owls featured a balanced attack as Ashlynn Porter and Gabriel Maldonado had eight kills apiece, Karson Hutchinson had seven kills, Morgan Collier added six kills and Natalie Belisle pitched in four kills. Cloey Dress had 18 assists and nine digs while Brooke Mason added 12 assists. And Peyton Cole led the defense with 19 digs with Tyler Pool adding 14 digs.

Joshua will be in action Thursday through Saturday at the John Turner Classic in Pearland. On Thursday, the Lady Owls will face Cornerstone Christian at 2 p.m., Nederland at 5 p.m. and Montgomery at 6 p.m.

Rio Vista starts 1-0

The Rio Vista Lady Eagles started the 2022 season 1-0 with a 3-1 victory Tuesday over Abbott.

Rio Vista opened with a hard-fought 27-25 win in the first set before Abbott evened things up with a 26-24 win in the second set. The Lady Eagles won the always-important third set, 25-23, to take a 2-1 lead then Rio Vista finished off the win with a 25-22 victory in the fourth.

Carleigh Hiett had 14 kills to lead Rio Vista while Ella Conley added 11 kills with three blocks with Randi Wilson pitching in eight kills.

The Lady Eagles are scheduled to compete in the Wimberly Tournament beginning Thursday.

Other county results

Burleson dropped its season opener vs. Stephenville in a 3-0 loss as the Honeybees recorded the sweep with wins of 27-25, 25-21 and 25-17.

Burleson Centennial suffered a 3-0 loss at Waxahachie on Tuesday; 25-14, 25-12 and 25-16.

The Godley Lady Cats swept Fort Worth Trimble Tech for a 3-0 win Tuesday with wins of 25-12, 25-14 and 25-19 for a 1-0 start.