Blue Outlasts White in Thrilling FCA Volleyball All-Star Match

Spectators were treated to high quality volleyball on Saturday afternoon at McGraw Event Center.

The all-star game put on by the Permian Basin chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes is supposed to showcase the area’s top graduating high school seniors and Saturday’s match certainly did that.

The Blue team held off a rally from the White team and won the third-annual Marks Family Classic all-star volleyball game with a 25-16, 25-18, 19-25, 25-20 win at Midland Christian’s home gym.

Midland Christian’s Camdyn Sears, playing for the last time at home before continuing her volleyball career at Lubbock Christian University, had an ace for match point to give the Blue team its win.

“I’m thrilled for her, not because she is my best friend, but she is the one who pushes me to be my best, on and off the volleyball court,” said Blue teammate and Midland Christian teammate Aubree Lundberg, who will be playing with Sears at LCU. “I’m thrilled to go to LCU with her now. It’s going to be a great next four years.”

The Blue team seized the momentum in the first set when it went on a 9-0 run to take an 11-2 lead with Legacy defensive specialist Emalea Hicks serving eight straight points, including an ace.

Blue led 16-5 in the first set after a pair of aces from Andrews outside hitter/defensive specialist Lauren Vasquez, who will continue her career at Hutchinson Community College.

Blue carried its momentum into the second set when Lundberg shined with her play at the net to help the Blue team overcome a 9-7 deficit. Lundberg had a kill for the 24 ^th point in the set before Blue took the set on a White passing error.

“I love volleyball, but I think the most special part was being able to worship with different people that I have never seen and come together and praise the same God that created us,” Lundberg said of the weekly activities that included worship. “That was really special and obviously the volleyball and the fun competitiveness it all brought.”

The White team changed the complexion of the match in the third set when Odessa High outside hitter Clarissa Rodriguez and Wink outside hitter Aizlyn Dewberry had a strong performance around the net.

The White team took a 23-14 lead when Greenwood’s Caili McDonald and Odessa Compass Academy’s Camille Kubacak combined on a block.

Rodriguez, who will play at San Antonio’s Our Lady of the Lake this fall, had a stretch during the set when she had three consecutive kills and a string where she had a kill or block in five of seven points played.

“I had a lot of fun with the girls,” Rodriguez said. “I had an amazing experience of being in FCA and learning about Jesus and God. Getting deeper to Him and letting Him be closer to me while I was playing volleyball. It was really good.”

A kill by Rodriguez cut White’s deficit to 23-20 in the fourth set.

But Forsan’s Scout Stockton followed with a kill for the 24 ^th point for the Blue team before Sears ended the match with her match-winning serve.

“They had great players on the White team,” Andrews coach and Blue head coach Ashley Dyches said. “They are super competitive, they are super fun. Some of them are playing their former teammates. Just to see all of them come together. There was heart to that competition. It was so much fun.”

Blue took the lead for good when Legacy’s Taylor Martinez recorded a kill to extend the lead to 7-6 in the fourth.

“I think our girls did awesome,” Dyches said. “It’s such a good representation of all the talent in the Permian Basin area and these girls bought into their new teammates, created new memories and new relationships. I think they went out there and competed and used their love for the game in serving the Lord. I’m super proud and super grateful.”