Christine Phillips

Another Texas state championship weekend has come and passed. And like every year there were teams predicted at the beginning of the year to finish well and others which performed well in the end. It was fun to see the chemistry of teams who came and left it all on the court and  it was awesome to see some underclassmen making their presence known. I wanted to shine a spotlight on the athletes who stood out in the final matches throughout the tournament.  Swinging with Fire  No matter what division you got to watch there were some amazing hitters on the court throughout the tournament. From opposites to middle blockers to outside itters fire power was definitely on display. Hitters that shined were Katy Thompkins athletes senior Cindy Tchouangwa (Rice), junior Skylar Skrabanek (Florida State commit), and senior Tendai Titley (Bradley), Dripping Springs athletes senior Mackenzie Plante (Tennessee), sophomore Riley Certain, and freshman Henley Anderson, Colleyville Heritage athletes senior Ella Busey (Houston), senior Reagan Engler (Air Force), and sophomore Suli Davis, Frisco Reedy athletes senior Halle Schroder (Boston College) and senior Reese Miller (Texas A&M Corpus Christi), Aubrey athlete senior Sydney Garrison (Tarleton State), Canyon Randall athlete junior Jordyn Gove, and Gunter athletes senior Rayanna Mauldin (Southern Nazarene)  and senior Miranda Putnicki (UTSA).  Setters running the show Setting was another area that was impressive to watch. Colleyville Heritage senior Morgan Howard (Louisiana Monroe) led the way with collecting 51 assists in the final match against Frisco Reedy. She was also named MVP in the end and it was well deserved. Frisco Reedy senior S/Opp Gracie Cagle (Montana) also shined on the court during that  finals match. Reedy ran a 6-2 allowing Cagle to swing. Two setters with sass that were definitely shining on the court were Canyon Randall sophomore Sidney Soria and Bushland senior Logan Culpepper. And Dripping Springs has two setters who dished efficiently. One being freshman Sydney Lund who is mentioned below and the other is junior Presley Alford.   Liberos running the court Athleticism and the no fear attitude was alive and well in the gym this weekend. We all love to watch some great swings but let’s be honest, an amazing dig can fire up a squad just as fast! Liberos who definitely ran the court included Dripping Springs senior Taylor Tjelmeland, Katy Tompkins sophomore Brooklynn Merrell, Colleyville Heritage junior Ava Ash, Canyon Randall senior Tatum Brandt, and Gunter senior Briley Singleton. Freshmen making an impact Impact freshmen throughout the tournament was impressive. Dripping Springs had two freshmen who made a huge impact. Outside hitter Henley Anderson was seriously fun to watch. At 6-2 she never left the court and was swinging like a senior. Setter Sydney Lund is another one to watch in the future.  Another outside hitter who was fun to watch was Blum athlete Kinsley McPherson. She was actually named MVP of division 1A in the end. Freshman middle blocker Callie Funk from Katy Tompkins was a wall at the net and transitioned very nicely.  And the last freshman I wanted to highlight is Anna Flores from Keller HS. She came into the season as an opposite and backup setter but ended up playing middle in the end. She stepped up into a position she never played.  Final Results 1A: Blum 3, D’Hanis 0 (25-10, 25-17, 25-16) All-Tournament Team                 MVP Kinsley McPherson – Freshman – Blum  Emma Scott – Junior – Blum Ruby Rumohr – Junior – Blum Kayden Arrington – Junior – Blum Mabry Herrmann – Senior – D’Hanis Valeria Zavala – Junior – Benjamin   2A: Windthorst 3, Lindsay 2 (25-12, 20-25, 25-23, 14-25, 15-12) All-Tournament Team                MVP Rylee Wolf – Junior – Windthorst Annikah Frank – Junior – Windthorst Tara Tackett – Senior – Windthorst Kyla Metzler – Senior – Lindsay Emily Metzler – Junior – Lindsay Emily Sitton – Junior – Jewett Leon   3A: Gunter 3, Bushland 0 (29-27, 25-23, 25-20) All-Tournament Team      MVP Rayanna Mauldin – Senior – Gunter Miranda Putnicki – Senior – Gunter Briley Singleton – Senior – Gunter Kaela Neie – Senior – Bushland Logan Culpepper – Senior – Bushland Kellen Dorotik – Senior – East Bernard   4A: Canyon Randall 3, Aubrey 0 (25-16,25-17, 27-25) All-Tournament Team             MVP Jordyn Gove – Junior – Canyon Randall Sidney Soria – Sophomore – Canyon Randall Sydney Garrison – Senior – Aubrey Annaleise Sevier – Junior – Aubrey Sydney McKay – Sophomore – Bellville Abby Aschenbeck – Senior – Bellville   5A: Colleyville Heritage 3, Frisco Reedy 1 (25-14, 23-25, 25-18, 25-20) All-Tournament Team:             MVP Morgan Howard – Senior – Colleyville Heritage Suli Davis – Sophomore – Colleyville Heritage Ella Busey – Senior – Colleyville Heritage Reagan Engler – Senior – Colleyville Heritage Halle Schroder – Senior – Frisco Reedy Reese Miller – Senior – Frisco Reedy   6A: Dripping Springs 3, Katy Tompkins 0 (26-24, 25-15,25-19) All-Tournament Team MVP Mackenzie Plante – Senior – Dripping Springs Henley Anderson – Freshman – Dripping Springs Ava Williamson – Senior – Dripping Springs Tendai Titley – Senior – Katy Tompkins Taylor Polivka – Senior – Keller Claire DeWine – Senior – Conroe The Woodlands

First and foremost, we want to give a huge shout out to the Division 1 champion Christ Academy and Division 2 champion Ovilla Christian High School. I unfortunately did not have a chance to catch these matches since I drove down Friday morning (and these matches were played on Thursday). On Friday, I was able to make the 6A semifinal matches featuring Prestonwood Christian Academy vs Parish Episcopal and Antonian Prep vs Bishop Lynch. First up was the PCA vs Epicopal match. PCA came into the match as the No. 5 ranked program in our vballrecruiter.com Top 50 HS National Rankings. The national powerhouse program swept the match (25-14, 25-15, 25-19) behind junior USC commit and outside Hitter Jadyn Livings, junior Michigan commit and setter Camille Edwards, junior TCU commit and outside hitter Mikala Young, 5-star outside hitter Cari Spears, 5-star libero Gillian Pitts, junior 4-star middle blocker Kennedy Washington and sophomore 4-star setter Taylor Cook. Episcopal was led by senior UCLA beach signee and setter Harper Cooper, senior libero Fiona Kelly, senior outside hitter Sarah Pickett and sophomore 3-star middle blocker Reese Jackson. The connection between Cooper and Jackson was very effective.  The second 6A semifinal was between Antonian Prep and Bishop Lynch, which ended up with the sweep 25-16, 25-20, 25-22. Bishop Lynch was led by senior Providence College signee and middle blocker Lyric Berry, senior Arizona beach signee outside hitter Ashlyn Zilliken, senior UWash signee and outside hitter Leah Oyewole, junior Arkansas commit and outside hitter Lauryn Lambert, junior Brown commit and opposite Paloma Gonzalez, junior setter Cate Hatfield, junior defensive specialist Delaney Moon and sophomore 4-star libero Maddie Smotherman. Antonian Prep was scrappy as heck and was led by senior libero Incarnate Word signee Hailey Garza, senior outside hitter Sujeili Mermella, senior middle blocker Sydney Barber, senior setter Jaiden Lavanway, senior setter Desiree Camargo and junior 4-star outside hitter Kalina Calvillo.  After watching the semifinals, I headed over to the other location for the 3-5A finals. First up was Round Rock Christian Academy vs Dallas Lutheran. RRCA captured the state title in four sets, 23-25, 25-13, 25-17, 25-19. RRCA was led by senior outside hitter Ryann Holley, senior setter Reagan Sawyer, senior outside hitter Savannah Johnson and senior UMHB beach signee and libero Kelli Northup. Dallas Lutheran was led by senior Texas A&M-Corpus Christi beach signee Millie Olsson, Lauren Pittman and Ava Pope.  Next up was the 4A state title match between Grace Prep Academy and Brentwood Christian. Talk about a nail biter! GPA defeated Brentwood in five, 21-25, 25-20, 25-20, 14-25, 15-12. GPA was led by senior middle blocker Lacy Young, junior 4-star libero Savanna Stevens, junior outside hitter Maya Kelly and junior outside hitter Kalli Smith. Brentwood Christian was led by senior outside hitter Ashlynn Alvarado, junior libero Aubrey Acheson and freshman outside hitter Claire Montgomery.  The last match on Friday night was the 5A state title match between Liberty Christian School and Fort Bend Christian Academy. Liberty Christian defeated Fort Bend Christian in four, 25-18, 16-25, 25-20, 25-21. Liberty Christian was led by senior Houston signee and setter Reagan Fifer, senior middle blocker Austen Goodgion, junior outside hitter Tally Grissom, sophomore 4-star opposite Naya Salfiti and sophomore libero Quinnly Heinsen. Fort Bend was led by senior setter Emma Pekar, junior outside hitter Cambry Gerardi, 5-star middle blocker Bayleigh Minor and sophomore outside hitter Layne Bulow.  On Saturday, the final state title match was played when Prestonwood Christian squared off against Bishop Lynch for the 6A championship. These two teams had already met twice this season and PCA defeated BL in five and four games, respectively. Needless to say both squads knew their opponents well. And the same stars shined in this title match. PCA ended up sweeping BL, 25-20, 25-19, 25-20, to capture the 6A title. And let me tell you there was some incredible volleyball played on both sides of the court!  Show Stoppers Ryann Holley SR OH – Round Rock Christian Savannah Johnson SR OH – Round Rock Christian Millie Olsson SR OH – Dallas Lutheran (TAMCC Beach Signee) Aubrey Acheson JR L – Brentwood Christian Savanna Stevens JR L – Grace Prep Academy  Maya Kelly JR OH – Grace Prep Academy  Bayleigh Minor SO MB – Fort Bend Christian Emma Pekar SR S/Opp – Fort Bend Christian Tally Grissom JR OH – Liberty Christian Reagan Fifer SR S/Opp – Liberty Christian (Houston Signee) Naya Salfiti SO Opp – Liberty Christian Lauryn Lambert JR OH – Bishop Lynch (Arkansas Commit) Leah Oyewole SR Opp – Bishop Lynch (UWash Signee) Lyric Berry SR MB – Bishop Lynch (Providence College) Paloma Gonzalez JR Opp – Bishop Lynch (Brown Commit) Jadyn Livings JR OH – Prestonwood Christian (USC Commit) Mikala Young JR OH – Prestonwood Christian (TCU Commit) Camille Edwards JR S – Prestonwood Christian (Michigan Commit) Macaria Spears SO OH – Prestonwood Christian Gillian Pitts SO L – Prestonwood Christian Harper Cooper SR S/Opp – Parish Episcopal (UCLA Beach Commit) Hailey Garza SR L – Antonian Prep (Incarnate Word Signee)