Cabrera, Morales represent at volleyball all-star game

• (TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Former Ladycat Mya Cabrera (7) reaches with a teammate for a block attempt during an all-star volleyball game Saturday, June 15.
• (TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham’s Olga Morales dives onto the floor to save a ball for the blue team during the Big Country FCA all-star volleyball game Saturday, June 15.
• (TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Newcastle’s Mya Cabrera leaps into the air and prepares to hit the ball for a point during the Big Country FCA all-star volleyball game Saturday, June 15. Cabrera’s red team defeated the blue team in three sets.
• (TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Former Lady Blue Olga Morales prepares to serve the ball and tries for an ace during an all-star volleyball game Saturday, June 15.

High school careers came to a close last month, but for two local volleyball players they received the opportunity to step on the court one last time at a volleyball all-star game.

Graham’s Olga Morales and Newcastle’s Mya Cabrera, both 2024 graduates, represented their schools at the Big Country Fellowship of Christian Athletes volleyball all-star game Saturday, June 15.

The game was one part of All-Star Festival 2024, put on annually by the organization. This year marked the 12th anniversary of the all-star volleyball game.

Cabrera and Morales played on opposite sides of the court with the Ladycat representing the red team and the Lady Blue playing for the blue team.

In a best-of-three sets competition, the red team ultimately bested the blue team 2-1 with set scores of 20-25, 25-12 and 25-19.

Overall, the primary objective of the weekend is for players to have fun and make new memories. For some participants, this game may have been the last time they played competitive volleyball.

“It’s very fun,” Morales said. “I made a lot of friends and made a lot of memories and had fun playing with different people from all over the place.”

Big Country FCA serves communities spread across a 37-county area, so while there were some familiar faces on the court, these players met and made plenty of new friends throughout the days of practice leading up to the final competition Saturday.

“It’s a whole different game compared to 1A school ball, like all 1A through 6A is here,” Cabrera said. “So it’s really good just to see what it’s like to play with the bigger players, and it challenges you a little bit more but also makes it a little bit more fun.”

Both teams started the game with two full warmup sets to 25 points. While they were unofficial, the red team took control and set the tone early on.

However, when the sets began to count, the blue team was the one who jumped out to the lead by winning the first set. Morales kicked things off with a kill for the first point of the real game and contributed a few more kills and some service aces throughout the set.

Cabrera spent a lot of time near the net and racked up a few blocks throughout the set while mixing in some accurate kills of her own, as well.

The blue team led 23-15 before the red team fought back with five straight points to make it 23-20 before a couple of red team errors gave the blue side the first set.

Coaches on both sides made sure to take advantage of their free substitutions so all the players saw adequate time on the court. In the second set, the teams stayed close before the red team began to pull away near the midway point.

With a huge lead already, Cabrera powered down a block to give her team a 19-8 lead and contributed another kill later to make it 20-10. The red team went on to dominate the second set and win it 25-12, which forced a pivotal third set.

Morales and Cabrera each helped their respective teams in the close third and final set. The teams battled all the way through and found themselves tied at 15-15 after Cabrera hit a pinpoint kill to the back corner.

The two teams tied again at 16-16 before the red team began to pull away with a run of four straight points. The red team pushed the lead to 24-17, one point away from victory.

The blue team earned a couple more points but a final blue team hit into the net gave the red team the third set and match victory.

Though the competition was fierce, the two local volleyball players made their marks in their final high school volleyball experience. Each athlete has signed to continue their volleyball career in college, with Cabrera heading to Tarleton State University and Morales attending Ranger College.

“It’s going to be a whole different ball game, bigger than this one I bet,” Cabrera said. “I’m ready for the challenge and ready to get into it.”

Morales shared her enjoyment of the all-star festivities and similar sentiments to moving into college sports.

“I loved (this weekend), I absolutely loved it,” Morales said. “I’m playing volleyball and softball in college and I’m looking forward to it.”

• Sports