THE PINNACLE: UIL Volleyball State Final Preview -- McKinney North vs. Flour Bluff (5A-D1)
Despite what the odds might have indicated, McKinney North (28-11) has proven the doubters wrong time and again, as they reached the UIL State Tourney for the first time ever since the school was founded in 2000.
Now, they've punched their ticket to the Final on the heels of defeating Aledo, in what was a five-set slug-fest.
What's even more surprising is the fact that the Bulldogs have accomplished said feat with a younger roster than most.
Coach Libby Rodriguez's squad is elevated by a trio of juniors -- LSU-commit (beach volleyball) Allyn Brewer (461 kills, 440 digs), Texas A&M-commit Gabi Rodriguez (881 digs), and the team's leading setter, Jordan Kowallis (677 assists, 247 digs).
Furthermore, Chloe Lewis (Jr. MB // 305 kills), Malia McNeal (So. S // 590 assists), and freshman Anna Sayman (232 kills) round out a scary-good six-rotation for MNHS.
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Meanwhile, out of Corpus Christi, TX, Flour Bluff (37-12) also makes its State debut, following their 3-1 win over power-house College Station on Tuesday night.
Led by coach Kara Wallace and her staff, the Hornets feature a bevy of super-star athletes, beginning with senior Maggie Croft, who has tallied 680 kills and 443 digs in her swan-song season before moving on to SMU next Fall.
Junior Lola Fisher has been dishing dimes all year long, having recently surpassed the 1,000-assist mark for 2024, while sophomores Addison Mayo (702 digs), Alyssa Thornton (354 kills), Kristina Rodriguez (247 assists), and Kate Croft (234 kills) have chipped in on a consistent basis.
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This has the potential to be a five-setter when the Bulldogs and Hornets square up Saturday afternoon (2:00 pm) in Garland. Don't miss out!