The Albany Lady Lions volleyball team opened the 2025 regular season with back-to-back sweeps at home Tuesday, defeating Merkel 25-22, 25-23, 25-18 and Aspermont 25-17, 25-21, 25-12.
The weekend before, Albany played scrimmages against Benjamin and Breckenridge on August 8, and Woodson on August 9. Reneau said the goal was to get on the court with the new group, especially the younger players.
Hundreds of Albany Lions and Lady Lions supporters filled the Clear Fork Bank Park on Monday, August 11, for the annual ice cream supper that marks the start of the fall sports season. The long-running event once again gave the community a chance to meet the athletes and hear directly from the coaches about the year ahead.
Athletes from JV and varsity football, volleyball, cross country, and cheerleading took the stage to introduce themselves. Each coach spoke about their team’s preparations and expectations for the season.
Cool morning temperatures gave Albany football players a welcome surprise as the first official week of practice got underway. Head Coach Denney Faith said the early conditions allowed for crisp, focused workouts to start the season.
“It’s been really cooperative weather-wise,” Faith said. “We’ve had a good start.”
The Lions opened the week under UIL acclimation rules, beginning with two days in shorts before adding shoulder pads on Wednesday. Full-contact practice was expected to begin Friday.
The Albany Lady Lions officially opened the 2025 volleyball season Friday, August 1, with a full weekend of workouts, community service, and team-building activities aimed at setting the tone for a strong year.
Head Coach MJ Reneau said 20 players are out for the team this season, ensuring full JV and varsity rosters with depth. While the program has had a third team in past years, Reneau said she hopes to see continued growth to bring that back in the future.
With the return of August comes the return of football in Albany, as the Lions are set to begin their first official practice Monday morning, August 4. Head Coach Denney Faith said the team expects close to 50 players this season, slightly above average for recent years, with a varsity squad projected to number between 25 and 30.
The Lions will have experience on their side, returning seven offensive and nine defensive starters from last year’s squad. But many key positions, including quarterback, remain unsettled heading into the first week of practice.
The Albany Lady Lions volleyball team is ready to take the court for the 2025 season, with practice beginning tomorrow, Friday, August 1. Head coach MJ Reneau said she expects around 20 girls in the program this fall, with both varsity and junior varsity teams in place. In addition to the first practice, the team will volunteer at Closet Angels Friday afternoon.
With a new school year and athletic season just around the corner, the Albany Athletic Booster Club is launching several initiatives to build support for student-athletes and coaches.
For the first time, fans can officially become members of the Booster Club, with multiple membership levels ranging from $25 to $500. Each level offers increasing benefits like recognition in the football program, booster yard signs, decals, flags, and even T-shirts. All memberships and sponsorships apply to the 2025–2026 school year and are now available at albanyathleticboosterclub.com.
The Shackelford County Youth & Livestock Association’s annual 3-Person Golf Scramble brought in another $40,000 this past weekend, matching last year’s total. The tournament was held Saturday and Sunday, July 19–20, at Albany Golf Club, with proceeds supporting local youth exhibitors in the Shackelford County Stock Show.
A group of young athletes from Albany will represent their town on the national stage this weekend as members of the Twisted Sisters, a regional team competing in the USA Softball National Championship in Wichita Falls.
The team includes six girls from Albany: Kynlee Milligan, Mackenzee Roysdon, Avery Gleitz, Hailey Gleitz, Sawyer Shoaf, and Tinley Hefner. They’ll be joined by four additional players from Cisco, Hawley, Breckenridge, and Abilene to complete the 10-player roster. Tim Milligan is coaching the team.
With summer conditioning wrapping up, Albany High School athletes are gearing up for the start of football and volleyball practices in early August, as both programs report strong numbers and solid participation this summer.
Football: Numbers Look Good
Head football coach Denney Faith is currently on vacation, but athletic director Ryder Peacock said coaches are optimistic about the upcoming season.
