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PLAYOFF PREVIEW: Sunnyvale vs. Aubrey volleyball
It's time for the regional semifinals in the Texas high school volleyball playoffs. As area teams gear up to face each other, VYPE DFW is taking a look at some squads fans should keep their eyes peeled on. Sunnyvale and Aubrey are two teams set to face off on Friday for an intense battle. We dive into what fans can expect below:
Sunnyvale Raiders (34-7, 12-0)
Taking the season by storm, Sunnyvale has had a no-quit attitude from the very beginning of their season. Shutting out 15 of their 22 non-district opponents, the Lady Raiders posted a 22-7 non-district record with victories over the likes of Kaufman, Scurry-Rosser, Mount Vernon, North Forney, Rains, Sanger, and more. Sharpening their athletes' ability on the court proved to be beneficial as they worked toward their district schedule.
Once in district, Leah Devaraj, Chiora Enyinna, Anna Mitchell, Keila Sanger, Sophia Edwards, Savannah Bryan, Hillary McMahan, and other Sunnyvale athletes put an incredible effort into securing victories week after week. Finishing at the top of their district standings, Sunnyvale went undefeated in district play with victories over Community, Kaufman, Ford, Willis Point, Caddo Mills, and more. Outscoring their opponents 36-3 in sets throughout district play, Sunnyvale has had everything to celebrate already this season. Through the playoffs so far, the team has defeated Pinkston, North Lamar, and Brownsboro.
Aubrey Chaparrals (37-10, 9-2)
With several big moments through non-district play, Aubrey opened their season with a five-match win streak. Defeating tough opponents like Lancaster, Eastern Hills, Gunter, Cedar Creek, London, and others, Aubrey utilized their non-district schedule to prep for tough district opponents this season. The team carried their success into district play behind talented athletes like Shelby Ball, Kynadi Hall, Abby Wright, Gracie Michael, Annaleise Sevier, Olivia Starr, Bijou Duff, and others.
Finishing second in their district standings, the Lady Chaps posted huge victories over Panther Creek, Anna, Van Alstyne, Ranchview, and others. With tough moments, the team proved their ability to be resilient on the court; taking advantage of every moment given to them. So far through playoffs, the team has sent home several opponents including OCFFA, Godley, and Panther Creek.
What To Expect
Both of these teams have strong outings on the court. With a high IQ for the game and high-quality leadership, these teams can be expected to come out ready to take the victory on Friday night. Looking to secure another week of playtime, fans of both of these teams can expect high energy and focus on the court. These teams are geared up for a battle and you can expect to see back-and-forth big plays during this match-up.
The match is set to begin at 8 p.m. at Mesquite Poteet High School.
Aubrey shocks Gainesville football
In a district match-up, the Aubrey Chaparrals traveled to Gainesville last week. Putting their full effort into the game, Aubrey took off right out of the gate and never looked back as they faced a tough Gainesville squad. VYPE DFW takes a look back at the game:
Recap
Emerson Cagle opened up scoring for the Chaps early in the game with a 93-yard touchdown run. With high energy, Dylan Brooks and Anthony Brumley followed suit in the first quarter for touchdowns of their own; Brooks with a 38-yard rush and Brumley with a 3-yard rush. Continuing the run game in the second quarter, Cagle posted a 29-yard run to the endzone for an Aubrey score, putting the Chaparrals up 28-0 before Gainesville could finally answer back with what would eventually be their only score on the evening-- a 12-yard rush. Two more scores for Aubrey closed out the first half-- a 72-yard pass from Brock Temple to Tyler Brown followed by another Cagle rushing touchdown-- and the Chaps went into halftime ahead 42-7.
Having pulled away already with high energy and an incredible atmosphere, the Aubrey Chaparrals knew they could close out the game without any big issues. The second half saw a third-quarter score from Brooks and a fourth-quarter 86-yard touchdown rush from Nathan Hough.
What's Ahead
The 55-7 victory over Gainesville helped Aubrey improve their overall record to a 2-4 and 2-0 in district play so far. The team currently sits at the top of their district standings just above Van Alstyne who also has a 2-0 district record. The team hosts Van Alstyne on Friday in what could be their toughest district opponent this season. Looking ahead, fans can expect a tough battle on both sides of the ball. Van Alstyne is led by Weston Johnson, Kaster Fonseca, Brady Carson, and Brayden Miller. With a 60% winning percentage, the team will put up a fight against Aubrey.
Aubrey can be expected to continue to hold their own and impress their fans through their district schedule. Riding a high after a huge victory over Gainesville, the Chaparrals can be expected to show up with full force week after week through the rest of their schedule.