August 19, 2024

It was a busy opening week to the high school season. Half of Vballrecruiter’s Top 10 was in action, including the top four teams in the country in Grand Oaks TX, Mater Dei CA, Prestonwood Christian TX and Mira Costa CA respectively. Three of the four were involved in tournaments, while Mater Dei went 2-0 in a pair of nonleague matches. Let’s run through them below. KISD/CFISD The 48-team field was highlighted by our Preseason national No. 1 in Grand Oaks, the reigning UIL 6A champion. However, it’s very unlikely Grand Oaks will occupy the top spot once our next Top 50 is released in early September. Not only did Grand Oaks fall to Fulshear TX earlier in the week, Grand Oaks was taken down in the final by Cy Ranch TX. After winning its first seven contests, including beating Seven Lakes TX in the semifinals, it was Cy Ranch finishing undefeated and not Grand Oaks. Cy Ranch prevailed in five, 18-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-12, 15-8. It was a great start to the new season for Cy Ranch, which also beat national No. 35 Cinco Ranch TX in the semifinals. Cinco Ranch finished runner-up to Grand Oaks in last year’s 6A state final, meaning Cy Ranch beat both 6A finalists in back-to-back outings. Joining Grand Oaks and Cinco Ranch in losing just one time were Bridgeland TX and Stratford TX. Bridgeland took its only loss to Cinco Ranch in Friday’s challenge play. Stratford fell to College Park in Friday’s pool play. Cy Ranch, Grand Oaks, Cinco Ranch, Seven Lakes and Bridgeland are all scheduled to attend Volleypalooza in two weeks. BATTLE OF THE ROCK We highlighted Prestonwood Christian’s victory here, as well as tournament Show Stoppers. Prestonwood, ranked No. 3 nationally to begin the year, started off rocky and was upset by national No. 27 Southlake Carroll TX to start the tournament. However, Southlake Carroll lost its next outing to Wakeland TX, which allowed Prestonwood to still finish first in the pool. That kept Prestonwood and Cornerstone Christian TX, ranked No. 14 in the country, on a collision course. Prestonwood swept Cornerstone, 25-19, 25-19, in the championship match to bring home the trophy. Prestonwood is also set to participate in Volleypalooza. Prestonwood and Cornerstone are both returning to the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas next month. ANN KANG INVITATIONAL A Texas team made history in national No. 14 Byron Nelson. The Bobcat finished on top of the 16-team field at the Ann Kang Invitational in Hawaii. With it, Byron Nelson became the first school from the state to earn the tournament title. But like Prestonwood, Bryon Nelson took a loss along the way. Byron Nelson fell to Highland Park TX in Day 2 pool play but still finished first after taking down national No. 4 Mira Costa in three sets during Saturday’s pool play. Highland Park lost to Mira Costa in straight sets during Day 1 pool play and finished third in the pool to miss out on the semifinals. Highland Park fell to Palos Verdes CA in its first pool match to contribute to its third-place finish in pool. That left Bryon Nelson and Mira Costa advancing to the semifinals. In the other pool, it was Redondo Union CA and host ‘Iolani HI finishing 1-2 and making the final four. Byron Nelson swept ‘Iolani in one semifinal while Redondo Union upset Mira Costa in the other. In the final, Byron Nelson swept, 25-16, 25-17. Byron Nelson is back in action this coming weekend at the NorthWest ISD tournament. Also in attendance is Highland Park, which finished fifth in Hawaii. Another Texas school – Colleyville Heritage – finished 11th at Ann Kang and is also playing at the NorthWest tournament this weekend. Host ‘Iolani and Mira Costa finished tied for third. Redondo Union, Mira Costa and ‘Iolani are set to attend the Durango Fall Classic together in September. PEARLAND JOHN TURNER CLASSIC Dripping Springs TX, ranked No. 8 in our Preseason Top 50, is off to a flying start at 12-0. The record is bolstered by the team’s performance at Pearland, where it went 9-0. Dripping Springs outlasted Argyle TX, 22-25, 25-18, 25-22, in the championship match. Drippings Springs swept No. 31 Harlan TX in the semifinals. Argyle did the same to Ridge Point TX. It was Harlan’s only loss in the tournament. Fulshear suffered just one loss as well, falling to Ridge Point in the quarterfinals. NORTH-SOUTH INVITATIONAL This two-day tournament featured teams from North and South Carolina. It was Marvin Ridge NC sweeping past national No. 42 Reagan NC, 25-23, 25-19, in the final. Marvin Ridge beat Cardinal Newman SC in one semifinal. In the other, Reagan clipped Wando SC, 22-25, 26-24, 16-14, to advance. Marvin Ridge lost during Day 1 pool play to Legion Collegiate SC, which fell to Wando in three sets, 25-17, 16-25, 19-17, in the quarterfinals. NORTH EAST/NORTHSIDE ISD A two-day tournament held in San Antonio, it was Brennan TX defeating Alexander TX, 23-25, 25-20, 25-16, in the championship match and finishing 6-0. Brennan downed Davenport TX, 17-25, 25-19, 25-20, in its semifinal contest. Alexander fought off Johnson TX, 25-22, 15-25, 25-20, in the other semi. MANSFIELD ISD The three-day, 32-team field ended with Lake Ridge TX sweeping El Paso Americas TX, 25-21, 25-14. Lake Ridge finished the event by going 9-0 and dropping just one set. AISD JASON LANDER INVITATIONAL Another three-day event, this one featured 37 teams after one dropped out. It concluded with Austin TX beating Bowie TX, 25-21, 25-22, in straight sets. Austin went 9-0 and didn’t drop a set.