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THE PINNACLE: UIL Volleyball State Final Preview -- Stratford vs. Byron Nelson (6A-D2)
In the midst of the most preeminent season their program has ever seen, Stratford (42-2) has never stopped believing in what they can accomplish.
After defeating Shadow Creek (3-1) in the Region III Final, the Spartans followed that up with another win in four sets against Vandegrift on Tuesday -- securing their place in the state championship for the first time since 2002.
Now, can they take it a step further and finally clinch the title?
Coach Jenny Adcock, the staff, the players, and their loyal fan-base certainly seem to think so.
What makes this group so threatening -- aside from their noticeable size -- is the fact that they're so well-balanced across the board.
Gwen Koss (465 kills, 423 digs), Sarah Hickman (361 kills), and Avery Kent (312 kills) provide the offensive production, thanks to Audrey Cook (1,259 assists, 363 digs) working her setter's magic.
Additionally, senior libero Rachel Ashby (527 digs) is all over the floor, while sophomore Milena Miladinovic (118 blocks) has stepped into a larger role.
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However, Stratford will have their work cut out for them when facing the monster out of Dallas-Fort Worth -- Byron Nelson.
Making their first State appearance since 2019 -- a year in which they took the UIL-6A Title -- the Bobcats are the No. 1-ranked team in the nation, according to MaxPreps.
They could give legitimately compete with college teams, given their considerable stature and capability.
With coach Brianne Groth at the helm, Byron Nelson has lost a mere 8 sets in 40 games this Fall, most recently sweeping College Park in the State Semis, to bring their record to a near-perfect 39-1.
Washington-commit Kylie Kleckner (573 kills, 297 digs) and Rice-commit Ashlyn Seay (468 kills, 304 digs) form a dynamic duo in the kill-department, while sophomore Sophee Peterson (1,432 assists, 194 kills), Kaitlyn Francis (385 digs), and Emily Houskneht (323 digs) further bolster a loaded Bobcats roster.
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Both these programs are enjoying monumental seasons. But, who will ultimately be crowned champion? Tune in Saturday (4:00 pm) at the Curtis Culwell Center to find out.
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District Preview: Byron Nelson just might be the it team this season
After finishing second in their district last year with a playoff run to be proud of, the Byron Nelson Lady Bobcats are back at it this season looking to dominate their district schedule. Before they can do that, though, they have a handful of non-district games to close out. VYPE DFW dives into what fans can expect from this team!
Non-District So Far
The Lady Bobcats have already posted an incredible record; 18-2 with a 90% winning percentage. Having dropped only eight sets out of a combined 58, Byron Nelson is on track to be the team to beat moving forward. The Lady Bobcats already defeated well-known opponents like Justin Northwest (3-1), Flower Mound (3-0), McKinney (3-1), Grapevine (3-0), Euless Trinity (3-0), and more. Having posted 15 shut-out victories in their 20 games so far, the Lady Bobcats are stronger than ever as they look to close out non-district play with a home game against Plano East on September 1st.
What To Expect
As the team heads into district play, they very well might be one of the top contenders to make a statement season with another deep playoff run. Led by talented athletes like Kylie Kleckner, Averi Bourgeois, Emily Housknech, Nora Conway, Kalli Hall, Rayvyn Thomas, Zion Coats, Anna Koster, Hadley Warden, Ryleigh Francis, and more, the team has never been more prepared to dominate the court. Byron Nelson will open district play on Friday, September 8th on the road against the Southlake Carroll Lady Dragons.
Catch this team in action as they just might be one of the best in the area this season!