By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

SPRING GARDEN – Even though the 2023 volleyball season is still in its infancy, Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin saw all he needed to see in the Faith Christian tournament last weekend in Anniston.

The Lady Panthers made the championship game against Westbrook Christian. They took the first set convincingly and were up 14-8 in the second. Then the bottom fell out.

“It was like a firestorm hit,” Austin said. “Every one of us, we were just horrible. They come back and beat us. They outscored us 34-18 during that run. That’s where I said I’ve got to help some of these players out to be a little bit more successful.”

Over the weekend, Austin boldly decided to scrap his entire system and installed a new one on Tuesday just hours before the Lady Panthers played area rival Gaylesville and Cleburne County.

Whatever Austin did worked. The Lady Panthers swept Gaylesville 25-8, 25-11 and 25-8. They completed a sweep of the evening with a 25-10, 25-11 victory over Cleburne County.

“We moved some people around,” Austin said. “We walked through it. We went live against our JV maybe 10 minutes and we figured it out. I came in and revamped everything (Monday) night. I couldn’t sleep (Monday) night because I couldn’t wait to get on the court and see it in action today.”

The big difference, Austin said, was the way the Lady Panthers (7-1) lined up in serve-receive.

“Our serving order was different. Everything was completely different,” he said.

The dividends included 27 kills by Ace Austin. Chloe Rule contributed 10 kills and a pair of blocks. Maggie Jarrett delivered eight kills. Olivia Law managed six kills, four blocks and two aces. Avery Steward collected 43 assists and a pair of aces. Kristen Lewis came away with seven aces, and Layla Ingram finished with 12 digs and two aces.

“We’re trying to hide weaknesses and play to our strengths. That’s what I did,” Austin said. “I got people back to play where their strength is a little bit more. That’s the way I’ve always coached. I think all coaches try to hide their weaknesses. I saw enough of them and I thought we need to try and figure this out.

“Even some of those girls that might’ve been a part of that weakness, they do have a part in the game that’s strong for us. It’s a tricky thing. They might not be a good passer at times, but they’re a great server. We’ve just got to get them in position to be successful, and that’s what that was all about. I think this is going to help us be successful and help the individual be more successful too.”

Tuesday’s matches marked the first time in a tri-match that Austin coached against two of his former players: Cleburne County coach Jordan Sides and Gaylesville coach Kaylee Cronan Brannon. This is Sides’ fourth season with the Lady Tigers and Brannon’s first season at Gaylesville. Sides graduated from Spring Garden in 2012. Brannon graduated in 2014.

“It makes me feel proud,” Austin said. “I love it. I feel good knowing the kind of people they were when they were players with me. I know what they’re doing with their kids. I know how they’re treating them. I know how they’re coaching them. Their players will have a chance. I think as a parent looking at a coach, that’s all you want, kids to have a chance.”

Austin said both Sides and Brannon still call him for advice from time to time.

“On Sunday afternoons sitting around the dinner table after church, I listen to (Sides). Some of the things she’s done at practice, the tone of her voice, I just sit back and laugh.

“Kaylee calls me for advice too. The questions she asks I’m like ‘That’s really a good question. Sometimes I can answer it and sometimes I can’t. Both of them are very hard workers. They understand the all-star player and they understand the importance of a role player. I think you’ve got to understand as a coach how important it is to treat them all the same.

“The all-star players are really, really good players. You’ve got to challenge them. Your role players, you’ve got to let them know how big they are on the team. I think they both do a great job with that.”

In Gaylesville’s match against Spring Garden, Alyssa Calvert contributed three kills. Emma Givens added two assists. Sydney Smith and Aubrie Peek both posted a kill and a block. Lydia Reynolds finished with two kills and an ace.

In the Lady Trojans’ loss to Cleburne County, Calvert came away with five kills. Givens collected seven assists, three aces and two kills. Jayden Dobbins delivered three digs. Smith collected three aces, two kills and a dig. Gabi West added an ace. Peek finished a kill, an ace and an assist.