Harleton’s AnnaBelle Bunger Shines as Volleyball Player of the Week
BREAKING NEWS: The Harleton Lady Wildcats have made headlines this week, marking a significant turnaround in their inaugural volleyball season. After starting with 15 straight losses, the team has surged to a 3-4 record in their last seven matches, a promising sign for the future.
Freshman standout AnnaBelle Bunger has been instrumental in this turnaround and has been named the Longview News-Journal’s Volleyball Player of the Week. Her impressive performance last week included a staggering 17 aces, 18 kills, 73 assists, and 41 digs across matches against St. Mary’s, Overton, Tyler Legacy’s JV, Trinity School of Texas, Longview Christian School, and Overton’s JV.
The Lady Wildcats, currently playing an “outlaw” schedule, are set to join a district next season, giving fans reason to be excited about their future prospects. Bunger’s contributions highlight both her talent and the potential of the team, which is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with.
In addition to Bunger’s accolades, several players across East Texas have also delivered remarkable performances. Longview’s Landry Tubb went 37 for 39 at the service stripe, contributing six aces and 52 digs. Teammate Jaharia Hunter recorded 32 kills, 20 digs, two blocks, and two aces, while Triniti Jackson, who was recently crowned Longview High School’s 2025 Homecoming Queen, achieved 51 assists, seven aces, 22 digs, 28 kills, and four blocks.
The competition remains fierce, with Gilmer’s Livi Brown posting 47 kills, four aces, five blocks, and 14 digs this week. The Tatum Lady Eagles also showed their strength, as Kamdyn Scott, Kaysen Foster, and Taydem Barker led their team to sweeps over Pleasant Grove and Beckville. Scott recorded 38 kills, 16 digs, and three aces, while Foster added 34 kills, 17 digs, and seven aces. Barker delivered 72 assists along with five kills, 17 digs, and two aces.
Sabine’s Keeley McCann achieved a milestone by surpassing 2,000 career assists this week, amassing 90 assists, 13 kills, 48 digs, and three aces in her matches. Harleton’s Holly Roberts also contributed significantly with five aces, five kills, eight assists, and 95 digs.
Alba-Golden’s Sadie Wright had a standout performance as well, finishing the week with 12 aces, 20 kills, and six digs in her team’s only game.
As the season progresses, the Harleton Lady Wildcats and their rivals are poised for exciting matchups ahead. The remarkable achievements of players like Bunger are not just statistics; they represent the hard work and determination that these young athletes bring to the game. Stay tuned for more updates as this thrilling volleyball season unfolds.
