The Albany Lady Lions volleyball team battled through a tough district matchup on Tuesday, Sept. 30, ultimately falling to rival Hawley in three competitive sets: 17-25, 23-25, and 20-25. Despite the loss, Head Coach MJ Reneau praised the team’s performance, especially at the net.

“That was the best blocking game we’ve had this season,” Reneau said, noting that multiple players contributed key blocks that helped generate energy and momentum. However, serving errors continued to cause trouble for the team.

In one of the most emotionally charged games of the season, the Albany Lions came up just short against a much larger Class 3A Coahoma team on Friday night, falling 15–12 in front of a packed homecoming crowd.

“It was a great high school football game,” said Head Coach Denney Faith. “Two good football teams played each other, and I think both teams are better because of it.”

The Albany Lady Lions opened district play on a strong note Tuesday night, sweeping the Abilene TLCA Lady Eagles in three sets (25-16, 25-10, 25-19). The road win marked a critical momentum shift for the varsity team following a difficult loss over Homecoming weekend to Veribest.

“I thought our transition was spot on,” said Head Coach MJ Reneau. “It’s something we’ve really been working on, and it gave us so many opportunities to attack. The girls made adjustments without hesitation, and our chemistry and confidence are right where they need to be.”

The Albany Lions rolled to a commanding 69-6 victory over the Seymour Panthers on the road Friday night, backed by a relentless ground attack and a suffocating defense.

Albany amassed 500 yards of total offense, including 399 rushing yards, while holding Seymour to just 15 rushing yards and forcing four turnovers. The win moved the Lions to 3-0 on the season heading into homecoming week.

The Albany Lady Lions varsity team faced two home challenges this past week, falling to Newcastle on Saturday and Strawn on Tuesday but showing key signs of progress as they gear up for district.

Against Newcastle on Sept. 13, Albany dropped the match in four sets (21-25, 26-24, 16-25, 17-25). Head coach MJ Reneau said the team’s offensive execution stood out despite the loss.

“Our serve receive was a little off, but we turned nearly every ball into an attack,” she said. “That kind of growth is huge for us going into district.”

For the second week in a row, the Albany Lions earned a 21-7 victory over a rival opponent—this time shutting down the Hawley Bearcats in a defensive showcase at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.

The Lions defense played a pivotal role, recording six sacks, two takeaways, and two defensive scores. A blocked punt led to a special teams touchdown, while Mason McCloy returned an interception for a pick-six, giving Albany a momentum swing that carried throughout the game.

The Albany Lady Lions hosted Class 4A Snyder on Tuesday, Sept. 9, and despite falling in four sets, head coach MJ Reneau said the match offered valuable experience for her team as they prepare for district play.

“I’m taking nothing but positivity away from tonight,” Reneau said. “Snyder challenged us in areas we haven’t been challenged yet—fast middle hits, tough serves. We were missing one of our starters due to illness, and some of our JV girls stepped up and did a tremendous job.”

It had been 626 days since Adam Hill last played in a football game—his final snap for Albany coming in the 2023 state championship at AT&T Stadium on December 14, 2023. A monumental piece of the Lions’ back-to-back title runs in 2022 and 2023, Hill helped lead Albany to consecutive state championships with his toughness, versatility, and relentless work ethic. On Saturday, he finally returned to the field, suiting up for his first college game with the Texas Tech Red Raiders in their season opener against Arkansas–Pine Bluff.

The Albany Lions opened their 2025 football season with a 21-7 home victory over longtime rival Stamford on Friday, August 29, in front of a large crowd at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.

The game was tight through three quarters, with the Lions and Bulldogs tied at 7 entering the fourth. But Albany’s defense set the tone early and never let up. The Lions held Stamford to under 20 yards of total offense in the first half and only 155 yards for the entire game.

The Albany Lady Lions wrapped up tournament season by hosting their annual varsity volleyball tournament August 28–30. The event featured 12 teams from across Class 1A to Class 4A, bringing strong competition to Albany for three full days of play.

Varsity pool play took place Thursday, with Albany competing in a three-team bracket alongside Comanche and Rotan. The Lady Lions fell in both matches, with early errors proving costly.