LBHS volleyball takes fourth in Gold Bracket in Duncanville

August 21, 2025

By Tony Adams

The Belton Journal

The Lake Belton Broncos volleyball team, fresh off their sweep of Harker Heights, hit the road for a major test at the Duncanville Tournament this past weekend. On Friday, the Broncos faced District 21-6A Fort Bend Clements to start the tournament. The Broncos were sound systematically and cruised to a two-game win over the Rangers. Scores of the match were 25-13 and 25-17. Lake’s next pool matchup was against the District 7-6A Irving MacArthur Cardinals. The Broncos continued to move the ball with ease around the offensive side and leveled charges around the opposite side as they allowed just 15 total points in a sweep of the Cardinals. Scores of the match were 25-8 and 25-7. With Pool 7’s top seed on the line, the Broncos took on the District 6-5A Coppell Cowgirls. In the Broncos’ toughest match of the season, Lake played Coppell tough through all three games. The Cowgirls took two of three games to notch top seed in Pool 7. Scores of the match were 15-25, 25-22, and 25- 21. Kaitlyn Hutchins notched kills and Haylee Kasner collected an ace to give the Broncos an early lead. Madi Bingham set up a series of kills by Hutchins, Abbi Jones, Morgan Kukulski, Ava Wood and Madi Jackman. Solid service by Hutchins, Kruz Smith, and Keileigh Krueger throughout the match kept the Broncos in the game. Having clinched the second seed in Pool 7, the Broncos took on the District 10-6A Longview Lobos in the opening round of Gold Bracket play. Lake endured three grueling games, which included an extended game two, to down Longview 2-1. Scores of the match were 23-25, 32-30, and 25- 21. The momentum went back and forth at a phrenetic pace. The first two games had margins that did not exceed four points.

The Lobos were able to hold the lead late in the first game despite kills from Hutchins, Jones, and Kukulski that helped keep the Broncos from letting the game escape. Continued stellar service by Hutchins, Kruz Smith, and Keileigh Krueger throughout the match kept the Broncos in the game. The Broncos endured the second game with a high degree of grit and determination, having gone point-for-point with the athletic Lobos. Lake went beyond the 25-point mark, as the Broncos would take a one-point lead that was promptly answered by the Lobos. Lake took five one-point leads that were equaled before the Broncos scored the final two points for the thrilling 32-30 finish. The Broncos opened a five-point lead in game three before winning the final match by six points. Lake entered the Gold Bracket semifinal against District 3-6A North Crowley with an opportunity at a bracket championship on the line. The Broncos erased a five-point deficit to take game one. But the Panthers’ consistent attack took steam out of Lake in games two and three as North Crowley won the match, 2-1. Scores of the match were 23-25, 25-17, and 25-14. The Panthers went on to win the Gold Bracket with a 3-0 win over Socorro. “It was a great weekend against high-level talent,” Lake Belton head coach Allison Waits said. “I was proud of the team, and it gave us a great deal of confidence in ourselves.”The Lake Belton Broncos volleyball team, fresh off their sweep of Harker Heights, hit the road for a major test at the Duncanville Tournament this past weekend. On Friday, the Broncos faced District 21-6A Fort Bend Clements to start the tournament. The Broncos were sound systematically and cruised to a two-game win over the Rangers. Scores of the match were 25-13 and 25-17. Lake’s next pool matchup was against the District 7-6A Irving MacArthur Cardinals. The Broncos continued to move the ball with ease around the offensive side and leveled charges around the opposite side as they allowed just 15 total points in a sweep of the Cardinals. Scores of the match were 25-8 and 25-7. With Pool 7’s top seed on the line, the Broncos took on the District 6-5A Coppell Cowgirls. In the Broncos’ toughest match of the season, Lake played Coppell tough through all three games. The Cowgirls took two of three games to notch top seed in Pool 7. Scores of the match were 15-25, 25-22, and 25- 21. Kaitlyn Hutchins notched kills and Haylee Kasner collected an ace to give the Broncos an early lead. Madi Bingham set up a series of kills by Hutchins, Abbi Jones, Morgan Kukulski, Ava Wood and Madi Jackman. Solid service by Hutchins, Kruz Smith, and Keileigh Krueger throughout the match kept the Broncos in the game. Having clinched the second seed in Pool 7, the Broncos took on the District 10-6A Longview Lobos in the opening round of Gold Bracket play. Lake endured three grueling games, which included an extended game two, to down Longview 2-1. Scores of the match were 23-25, 32-30, and 25- 21. The momentum went back and forth at a phrenetic pace. The first two games had margins that did not exceed four points.