Missed opportunities cost Lady Dragons during frustrating day at Heart of Texas tournament

August 22, 2025 at 8:08 pm Derrick Stuckly

Saturday’s schedule included as Stormy Stringer (3) and the Bangs girls (2-9) will meet the Brownwood JV at 9 a.m. Saturday at Brownwood High School after an 0-4 Friday. {Additional photos included with story}

The Bangs Lady Dragons captured the opening set in two of their four matches Friday in Pool B play at the Heart of Texas volleyball tournament at the Brownwood Coliseum, but came away without a victory.

“Today was rough,” said Bangs head coach Colleen Westfall. “It started off pretty well, but it took kind of a downhill turn. I have such a young and inexperienced team that I’m not expecting perfection, but I am expecting them to learn to work together, which can be a little bit of a struggle at first, and then learn to execute what I’m asking them to do, like hit to certain spots or serve to certain areas and run certain tempo passes. We’re still very much in the learning curve of the season, and I knew it was going to be like that losing five seniors. Overall, I’m glad the girls are adjusting and learning and trying to figure it out. It’s one thing if a team just gives up and throws in the towel, but this team has not and I’m super proud of them for that.”

The Lady Dragons began the tournament Friday with a 25-22, 25-16 loss to eventual Pool B champion Comanche.

Ashlynn Sliger led Bangs with seven kills followed by Cameryn Harmon with three, and Justice Baker and Stormy Stringer with one apiece.

Baker recorded all eight Lady Dragon assists and served an ace, while Adalynne Stephens added an ace as well.

Defensively, Kylee Byler logged five digs trailed by four each from Cloey Petty and Harmon, and three from Stephens.

Bangs did not record a block.

In a 25-18, 25-12 defeat at the hands of Snyder, Sliger again led the Lady Dragons with five kills trailed by Baker, Harmon and Jasmine Lewis with two each.

Baker chalked up seven assists and added an ace, while Stephens also served an ace.

On the defensive end, Byler and Baker recorded four digs each along with three apiece from Petty and Stephens, from Harmon and one by Aubrey Martin.

At the net, Sliger collected Bangs’ lone block.

Bangs followed with a 14-25, 25-22, 15-11 loss to the Abilene Cooper JV as Ashlynn Sliger finished with a team-best seven kills along with six from Harmon, four from Karlyee Sliger and one each from Martin and Lewis.

Baker distributed 14 assists while Petty and Stephens each served three aces and Byler and Baker contributed two aces apiece.

Defensively, Byler compiled four digs along with three from Petty, two from Baker and one each from Harmon, Stephens and Ashlynn Sliger.

Friday’s finale was a 23-25, 25-18, 15-13 setback against Fort Worth Covenant as Ashlynn Sliger generated eight more kills along with three from Baker, two from Lewis, and one each from Harmon, Stringer and Karlyee Sliger.

Baker collected seven assists and Lewis tacked on one, while Petty served three aces trailed by Baker and Harmon with two each and Byler with one.

Petty’s 12 digs were a team-high followed by seven from Stringer, six from Baker, four from Harmon, two each Stephens and Lewis, and one apiece from Byler and Ashlynn Sliger.

Bangs again did not record a block in the final match.

The Lady Dragons (2-9) begin consolation play at 9 a.m. Saturday against the Brownwood JV at Brownwood High School. A win moves Bangs into the noon Silver Bracket championship game, and while a loss will result in an 11 a.m. contest for third place.

“I want to see us finish and figure out a way to win,” Westfall said of the Saturday goals. “That’s our main thing, and then continuing to learn each other on the floor and better our communication.”

Saturday’s tournament schedule is as follows:

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Saturday, Aug. 23 Heart of Texas tournament schedule

Gold Bracket (at Brownwood Coliseum)