Sports Week in Review, Oct. 21

10/21/2019

After a weekend of home contests, Spartan varsity teams are gearing up for the SPC Championships less than a month away.

This weekend’s opponents proved to be tough competition for Girls Varsity Volleyball, but every member of the team came ready to compete on Friday and Saturday. The Spartans celebrated seniors Elle Eyestone, Camille Miura and Katherine Wilkey at Friday’s game. While the seniors led the team in both effort and attitude, the squad came up short to conference foes Houston Christian and St. John’s (Houston). The Spartans are still on track to qualify for the SPC Tournament and have a showdown with St. Andrew’s on Friday, Nov. 1, at 5 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Upper School to determine final seeding.

Field Hockey went 1-1 at home on the weekend in SPC competition. The squad battled Houston Christian on Friday night, ultimately earning a 2-1 victory. While the team underperformed against the Mustangs, the Spartans certainly demonstrated their willingness to grind — even when things do not go as planned. After the game, the team celebrated seniors Kate Goodman, Aubrey Johnson, Lizzy Jones and Miriam Kessler in the annual Senior Night festivities. On Saturday morning, the team came ready to battle a skilled St. John’s (Houston) squad. Though possession was relatively even throughout the match and the Spartans had their fair share of opportunities in the circle, the Mavericks came out on top, sneaking two goals past the Spartan defense. To round out conference play and determine seeding for the SPC Tournament, the team will take on St. Andrew’s on Friday, Nov. 1, at 4:30 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Upper School.

Boys Varsity Volleyball defeated St. John’s in three sets on Saturday afternoon in Clayton Gym. The team stuck to the game plan by executing textbook passes and balancing the attack. Everyone contributed to the victory, and the squad currently sits at third place with a conference record of 6-3. The program celebrated seniors Nathan Berken, Joshua Foster, Patrick Kennedy, Jin Se Kim and Michael Martinez at Saturday’s game, acknowledging their contributions in growing and developing the boys volleyball program at St. Stephen’s. Up next for the team, the Spartans will host more than 15 volleyball teams on Friday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 26, for a tournament on campus beginning at 4 p.m.

The Austin Saints Football team went head-to-head with Oakridge (Arlington), the SPC 3A Division leader, on Friday night at St. Andrew’s Upper School. The Owls and Saints were tied at the half, but Oakridge gained the upper hand in the fourth quarter after completing a two-point conversion. That play seemed to swing the game’s momentum, as the Saints eventually fell to the Owls 29-14. The Saints are now 2-2 in conference games and will travel to Oklahoma City on Thursday to take on the Casady Cyclones on Friday, Oct. 25, before returning to Austin for their final game of the season on Friday, Nov. 1.

Cross Country did not compete over the weekend, but the team is in full preparation mode for the South Zone meet this Saturday at St. Andrew’s Upper School. The Spartans are looking for peak performances this weekend to round out the top 10 for the upcoming SPC meet on Saturday, Nov. 9, at Spring Creek Park in Houston. Senior Julian Baeza is a heavy favorite on the boys’ side, and junior Katie Cline will be a strong competitor on the girls’ side.

Back