MANSFIELD TREMENDOUS EFFORT FALLS SHORT IN BI-DISTRICT MATCH
BY CHUCK LICATA, CEO/BIG DADDY MEDIA
The Keller Indians’ varsity volleyball team swept Mansfield Thursday (Oct. 30), 3-0 (25-29, 25-21, 25-9) to win the Class 6A, Division 1 bi-district battle between the two squads.
However, this match – played at Haltom High School – was MUCH closer than even the scores indicate.
In fact, the first two sets of this high-powered match were akin to the old-school boxing matches between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali – both teams on their “A” game and punching out kill after kill.
In the end, the Indians – coached by third-year mentor Danielle (Barker) Spivey – finished off both sets by launching on a min-scoring run when trailing each set by identical 19-18 scores. Then, in the third set, Spivey’s crew rushed out to a 6-1 lead and never looked back to cap off the bi-district victory.
Keller moves on to play Eastlake (El Paso) in the area round of the playoffs; time and date to be announced.
Now, while Julie Price’s Mansfield team had an amazing season – the Tigers finished with one of their best-ever seasonal records at 44-3 – Price would be the LAST person to mention her team was feeling the loss of freshman stud hitter MC Crutcher, who was trying out for a spot on the first-ever USA Volleyball U17 National Team. Crutcher, along with 18 other of the best U17 players in the nation, was in Colorado Springs at the time of this match.
But despite the “crutch” of playing without arguably their best player, the Tigers came out and put on a show of power in the first two sets, hammering kills and making point-scoring blocks that would make any highlight reel.
Senior hitter Kylie Meche – who, surprisingly, is not a college commit as of this writing – stepped up big for Price and the Tigers. She struck early and often, eventually finishing with a team-high 11 kills and three solo blocks by our numbers. She also served consistently. Senior middle Darin Baldwin also contributed, tallying five kills and two total blocks.
Catey Jane Mills – who’s committed to the Division III power program of Mary Hardin-Baylor – stepped up for her teammates as well. She assisted on three blocks, made two solo blocks of her own and slammed five kills. And although we don’t have her totals, senior Libero Natalie Peak was a menace on defense, making incredible dig-after-dig, assisting on some kills and wrecking havoc on the Keller offense
But in the end, it was the Indians who outlasted the hit-and-block onslaught of the Tigers. Of course, perennial all-state first teamer Anna Flores (University of California-Berkley) was masterful, tallying 26 assists to go along with 10 kills, two total blocks and two aces.
“I remember when she was a ‘baby;’ she was a freshman hitter on our state team (back in 2022),” recalled Spivey, whom Flores credits for Flores’ all-around ability and growing education of the game of volleyball. “We asked her to hit for us this year and she said, ‘I’ll do whatever the team needs me to do.’ That’s the kind of selfless player she is.”
Spivey herself would know what selflessness and talent are like – she won three state championship medals playing as a setter for legendary coach/mom (Jan Barker) and the Amarillo Sandies back in her high school years.
But there were so many other contributors to the Keller win.
Senior Lilly Boatner (University of Hawaii-Hilo) didn’t tally any stats in the first half of the first set but then turned on the juice and delivered 10 kills (tied with Flores for the team lead) and assisted on two blocks. Just as was the case with Mansfield libero Peak, Keller senior defensive guru Lauren Scheiden rescued kill attempt-after-kill attempt and assisted on a few Keller kills and served up one ace.
Senior Chayse Black (University of Central Oklahoma; five kills and one total block) stepped up early for the Indians. Particularly in the second set, senior Sophee Dean (Southeaster Oklahoma University; one kill, two total blocks) and sophomores Abigail Bond (four kills, one total block) and Kendall Hill (four kills and one solo block) all helped Keller overcome some Mansfield leads and eventually close out the match.
“Sometimes having that one superstar, you have teammates who rely on her,” stated Spivey, who has one child (Hunter) with her husband Michael and another one on the way. “Everybody HAS to step up for this team to succeed; everyone HAS to play a part. No one can afford to slack; in some games, one player is hot while another may not be. But it’s always a team effort on the court for us.”
Congratulations to Mansfield seniors Peak, Meche, Mills, Baldwin, Layne Nicolle, Mogran Baughman and Emma Moore as they finish their fine student-athlete careers for Mansfield volleyball. close out the match.
“Sometimes having that one superstar, you have teammates who rely on her,” stated Spivey, who has one child (Hunter) with her husband Michael and another one the way. “Everybody HAS to step up for this team to succeed; everyone HAS to play a part. No one can afford to slack; in some games, one player is hot and another player may not be. But it’s always a team effort on the court for us.”
Congratulations to Mansfield seniors Peak, Meche, Mills, Baldwin, Layne Nicolle, Mogran Baughman and Emma Moore as they finish their fine student-athlete careers for Mansfield volleyball.
