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Oct. 25,
2001- The site was Wheeler gym in Sugar Land. The volleyball teams were Fort Bend Austin High School and Fort Bend Kempner High School. My expectations were that this volleyball match was going to be two easy games for Austin. After all, Austin has Amy
Stroder, Kristen Fairbanks and Kristen Hillhouse. Amy Stroder and Kristen Fairbanks are ranked No. 3 and No. 6 in the Houston Chronicle as leaders in Kills. Kristen Hillhouse is ranked No. 9 in the Greater Houston area in assists.
Kempner was not
intimidated.
In the first game, Kempner ran off 12 unanswered points before Austin showed up for the game. Every hit Kempner had fell in or was on the line. All of Austin's hits were wide or long. Senior Ellen Altamirano and Brooke Dumas were key players in the run. Ellen had a bunch of great sets and Brooke finished them off with kills. Brooke had 15 kills for the whole night. Ellen
played her club volleyball with Westside, coached by Chuck Schneider.
Austin defense tightened and the momentum switched. Austin quickly scored 5 points. With
senior Kristen Hillhouse serving, the margin improved to 13-7. Kempner broke service but Austin got the service back again. With
junior Kristen Fairbanks serving, the margin improved to 13-11. Kempner broke service again but Austin got the service back immediately. With
senior Vanessa Stiver serving, the score was 13-12. Kempner then took over, winning 15-12.
Austin carried the momentum that they had gained late in the first game into the next two
games. Austin led the second game 7-0, before Kempner scored. Billy Joe Clevenger was the
server for Kempner.
Junior Amy Stroder broke Kempner's serve. Kristen Fairbanks had two kills to bring the score to 9-2.
Then Kemptner broke Austin's service. Michelle McMurray served for Kempner. Jaime Brewer had a kill to make the score 9-3. Kempner service was long. Amy Stroder had two hits for scores to bring the score to 11-2. Michelle McMurray of Kempner broke service. Austin broke service and Amy Stroder scored again to make the score 11-3. Leah Gwodz hit scored to bring the score to 12-3. Tall Julie Pozywak blocked Kemptner's hit for a 13-3 lead. Michelle McMurray broke service again. With Ellen Altamirano serving, Kempner added two scores. Rachel Nelson
hit scored for one. Austin broke service again. With Amy Kerbow serving, Austin finished the game at 15-5. Julie Pozywak got the final score on another block.
In game three, Kempner jumped to a quick 3-0 lead before Austin scored. In this run by Kempner, Ellen Altamirano has several impressive sets. Kristen
Fairbank's kill gave Austin a 6-3 lead. Alex Alvarez blocked a Kempner hit to make the score 12-4 in favor of Austin. With Kristen Fairbanks serving, Austin increased their lead to 14-4 before Kempner broke service. With Ellen Altamirano serving, Kempner improved to 14-5. The final score of the third game was
15-5, advantage to Austin.
Amy Stroder and Kristen Fairbanks led Austin. Amy finished the night with 13 kills, Kristen was close behind. Both are
definitely major volleyball college prospects. Amy Stroder is very quick with great leaping ability.
Amy plays club volleyball for the Katy Juniors. Kristin Fairbanks was the tallest player on the court
and displayed tremendous coordination and agility. Kristin did everything. She set up her teammates, blocked the opponents hits and was one of Austin leaders in kills. Kristin also
served well too!
Other Austin players contributing were Laken Walker who plays club volleyball for Spike Sports, Ashley Forbes and Stephanie McDonald.
Other contributing Kempner players were Stephanie Lust, Jaime Brewer, Ivy Moody, Megan Hunt and Margaret
Leere.
Austin improved their District 20-5A record to 11-4 and their season record to 22-7. They finished
third in District 20-5A. Austin will be matched up with a team from District 19-5A for the play-offs.
Kempner 20-5A District record is 6-9 and their season record is 12-19.
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