STATE SEMIFINALS PREVIEW: Colleyville Heritage looks toward Liberty Hill
Last season, the Colleyville Heritage Lady Panthers played in the program's first-ever state tournament appearance. Taking the court by storm, the team secured a title victory to seal their season in the most perfect way possible. This season, the team is back on the biggest stage in Texas high school volleyball and ready to give their opponents a run for their money. Friday morning features a UIL Class 5A Semifinal pairing between Colleyville Heritage and Liberty Hill. VYPE DFW dives right into the Lady Panthers' season and what fans can expect:
Regular Season Play
Despite losing their opening match of the season to Southlake Carroll, the team was geared up and ready to bounce right back going for a nine-game win streak over Midlothian, Hereford, Midland Legacy, Paschal, Tascosa, and others. Through non-district play, the Lady Panthers faced off against tough teams who were sure to challenge them and prepare them for the road back to state. Sharpening their skills, the team posted victories over Frisco Liberty, Frisco Wakeland, Dawson, Hebron San Antonio Reagan, Prosper (who is playing in their own semifinal on Friday as well), and others before marching into district play.
Led by the determination and grit of athletes Suli Ane Davis, Maddie Bird, Audrey Popp, Onita Davis, Sarah Mendoza, Amagine Gardner, and others, the team faced down their district schedule without batting an eye. Despite two losses in district play, Colleyville Heritage posted a 12-2 district record and finished second in their district standings-- just behind a hard-to-beat Argyle team. Tough district victories were seen against Grapevine (3-0), Denton (3-2), Richland (3-0), Lake Dallas (3-0), Denton Ryan (3-0)m and more en route to the playoffs.
Playoffs So Far
Knowing they had to enter the playoffs with intensity, sureness, and a mental focus, the Lady Panthers looked toward Midlothian Heritage for their first round. Posting a a 3-0 victory was enough for Colleyville Heritage to know that they had everything it took to fight all the way to the finish through the rest of the playoffs. The team went on to defeat Aledo (3-1), Tascosa (3-0), and sealed their entry to the state tournament with a sweep over Argyle. Entering the state tournament on a 13-game win streak and having outscored their opponents by a combined 65 sets, Colleyville Heritage is more than prepared to take on a tough Liberty Hill team.
What To Expect
Liberty Hill (45-8, 13-1) is not a team that is going to be taken down without a fight. Led by tough athletes like Taylor Gaines, Kealy Dirner, Giovanna Mason, Ava Kostroun, and more, Colleyville Heritage is going to want to be sure to remain vigilant on the court at all times throughout the semifinals. Appearing in their fifth state tournament, Liberty Hill is no stranger to doing their job and doing it well.
Fans can expect a high-energy matchup on Friday morning. With athletes who are tremendous in their own right on each side of the net, this game is going to come down to the wire through each set. Be sure you catch all the action. The match is set to begin at 11 a.m. at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas.
