Abilene Christian High's Bruntmyer sisters get one last ride together at state volleyball

The Bruntmyer sisters — Shea and Halle — play volleyball one more time together when the Abilene Christian Lady Panthers battle defending state champion Red Oak Ovilla in a TAPPS Class 2A state semifinal match at 1 p.m. Thursday at University High School in Waco.

The two seniors have been playing the sport together since their junior year at Abilene Christian High. They must win Thursday to play one last time in the championship match Friday morning at Waco Robinson High.

“This being the last time we’ll play together competitively, it is a little sad,” Halle Bruntmyer said. “I’m trying to stay in the present, be in the moment and enjoy it.”

Shea Bruntmyer, too, hopes to make the most of this last ride together on the volleyball court.

“It’s very special, very different, because at the collegiate level, I won’t have my sister with me,” Shea Bruntmyer said. “I hope we win Thursday so I can play another match with Halle.”

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Big Sisters

Fourth-year ACHS coach Arnett McClure will certainly miss his two standout players, who complement each other and the team as well.

Shea Bruntmyer, a 5-foot-8 setter, leads the team with 790 assists, while Halle Bruntmyer, a 5-9 outside hitter, has a team-high 474 kills. Both are among team leaders in digs, blocks and aces, too.

“You see their stats every week,” McClure said. “They’re always at the top of the leaderboard in all areas, but their attitude, work ethic and grit make everyone better.”

It’s an interesting dynamic with one sister feeding the other the ball to make the Lady Panthers (27-6-1) one of the best programs in the state this season.

“I just get to put the ball up and she puts it down,” Shea Bruntmyer said. “That’s the exciting part. I like being the setter. At the end of the day, it’s not about me. All the attention is on the hitters who can really produce.”

Halle Bruntmyer, who is 11 months younger than her sister, said Shea Brunmyer makes her job easier.

“It’s been amazing to have a setter skilled as she is," said Halle Bruntmyer, who skipped her sophomore year, making the jump from freshman to junior. "She’s able to take whatever pass she gets and place it perfectly, and it makes my job so much easier as a hitter. I get the glory and the kill. I know she’s working twice as hard, if not harder, than anyone else. I know she’ll always do her best.”

Shea Bruntmyer said the two sisters’ success comes from a much higher power — and their teammates.

“The reason we have the chemistry is not because we’re sisters, but because God created the connection on our team,” Shea Bruntmyer said. “It’s really special this year — not like any other year of my volleyball career. We all really like each other, and we love to play together. We all like our coach and we all like each other.”

Team effort

It's not just a two-person show. Caroline Wade, a 5-7 junior middle blocker, leads the team in blocks (49), followed by 5-7 freshman middle Alice Long (35) and Shea Bruntmyer (33). Allie McClure, a 5-5 junior defensive specialist, leads the team in digs (363), while Halle (292) and Shea (228) are second and third, respectively. Shea has a team-high 108 aces, and Halle is second with 69.

Shea also is second on the team with 182 kills, followed by 5-4 junior middle Brynlee Toogood (172).

Coach McClure said it’s taken a team effort to reach state for the first time since 2016 — a year before McClure left Jim Ned to take over the Lady Panthers program.

“It’s exciting, especially with this group of girls,” McClure said. “This group has worked so hard. They work out, do conditioning every day before practice, and they don’t complain about it. They don’t whine. They’re up jumping around like it’s any other day. Just the enthusiasm these girls have for the game is really fun, really amazing.”

The district champs advanced to state with victories against Garland Christian Academy and Crowley Nazarene Christian. The Lady Panthers dropped one set, that to Nazarene.

Defending champs up next

Now, they face an Ovilla team (34-7-1) that has yet to drop a set in the playoffs. The Lady Eagles have won four of the last five state titles and ended ACHS’ season four times in that span, including the state semifinals in 2020.

The Lady Panthers won a state title in 2006.

The ACHS/Ovilla winner plays either Dallas First Baptist (35-5-2) or Spring Providence Classical (35-7-2) in the title match at 10 a.m. Friday at Waco Robinson High School.

So, this is the last week McClure will have the Bruntmyer sisters on his team.

“I’m excited to see what they do with their college careers,” McClure said. “I’m excited to see how they are as human beings and adults, but it’s bittersweet. I want them here. I want them playing for me. But at least they’re getting to go out on top here.”

TAPPS CLASS 2A STATE TOURNAMENT

State Semifinals

At Waco University High

Dallas First Baptist (35-5-2) vs. Spring Providence Classical (35-7-2), 10 a.m. Thursday

Abilene Christian (27-6-1)) vs. Red Oak Ovilla Christian (34-7-1), 1 p.m. Thursday

State Championship

Semifinal winners, 10 a.m. Friday, Waco Robinson High

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene Christian High seeks first state volleyball title since 2006