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STATE SEMIFINALS PREVIEW: Gunter braces for Columbus
Four consecutive appearances in the UIL state tournament and after winning the whole thing last season, the Gunter Lady Tigers are back on the biggest stage in Texas high school volleyball. Geared up and ready to give it everything they have in the UIL Class 3A State Semifinals, Gunter is braced for Columbus. VYPE DFW takes a look at Gunter's season so far, how they got here, and what fans can expect in this Thursday morning semifinal matchup!
Regular Season Play
Gunter has remained steady and focused since winning the state championship trophy last season. Entering this season poised and dominant, the Lady Tigers recorded a five-game win streak to start their season on the right foot. Despite 11 losses in non-district play, Gunter showcased tremendous power on the court derived from their ability to read their opponents and respond as a unit. The team defeated the likes of Frisco Lone Star, Frisco, Frisco Independence, China Spring, Hutto, and more before opening their district schedule.
Once district play began, there was no turning back for the Lady Tigers. Posting an incredible, undefeated district record (12-0), Gunter shut out 11 of their 12 district opponents and dropped only one set in district play during a 3-1 victory over Celina. Led by Avery Hale, Grace Dainauski, Berkeley Caple, Brelee Mauldin, Makena Fady, and other talented athletes, Gunter posted huge victories over Howe, Bonham, Leonard, Pottsboro, and more through district securing a first-place finish in their district standings, and another entry into the playoffs.
Playoffs So Far
Throughout five playoff games, Gunter has shut out four opponents (Pattonville Prairiland, Edgewood, White Oak, and Ponder). The other victory came in a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Boyd. Battling through tough moments and showcasing excellent resiliency, Gunter has proven that they have what it takes to get back to this stage of volleyball. Having outscored their opponents in sets by a combined 93-33, Gunter is as ready as ever to enter the state semifinal matchup on a high note.
What To Expect
Gunter is meticulous in their play on the court. Noticing every move their opponent attempts to make, the game IQ is high for the Lady Tigers. Fans can expect this team to truly put in the work and play hard against Columbus. Columbus (43-5, 14-0) is going to be challenging for the Lady Tigers. Respected in their district with athletes like Ally Tribe, Ember Mandola, Gracie Schobel, Claire Klausmeyer, and more, Columbus is in their sixth state tournament appearance, third in three seasons and hungry for a victory.
Fans can expect this to be a high-energy match with a lot of big plays on the court. Be sure to check out all the action. Play begins at 11 a.m. at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas.
PREVIEW: Gunter Volleyball focuses on the road to a repeat
Coming off of a high after finally defeating Bushland in the UIL 3A Volleyball State Championships, Gunter is geared up and ready to continue working this season. VYPE DFW takes a look at previous seasons and lays out exactly what fans can expect this season:
REWIND
Finishing undefeated in district since the 2020 volleyball season, the Gunter Lady Tigers have been on the prowl since this squad’s seniors were freshmen. In their third time to face Bushland in the state finals, Gunter put everything they had to the test and came away victorious last season. With a 43-6 overall record, the team posted a 22-game win streak before sealing their season with a championship victory.
Dropping only a single set through the playoffs and only dropping 26 sets all season, the Lady Tigers blindsided Prairiland (3-0), Ponder (3-0), Edgewood (3-1), Tatum (3-0), Emory Rains (3-0), Columbus (3-0), and Bushland (3-0) through every moment on the court. With a championship mindset, the team became everything they had worked to be.
LOOKING AHEAD
A smaller school in the state, Gunter has several new athletes. More importantly, they have strong returners who have been impactful leaders on the squad since their freshman season like Berkeley Caple, Breeze Mauldin, Makena Fady, and Aubrey Burchfield. With the team continually improving and proving itself, fans can expect this season to be much like the last.
Opening the season on the road with a 3-0 victory against Frisco Panther Creek, Gunter is off to a great start. Posting more victories over Garland Naaman Forest (2-0), El Paso Montwood (2-0), Frisco (2-1), and more, the Lady Tigers can be expected to have a phenomenal rest of preseason play. Focusing on the controllables and sharpening their skillset as well as game IQ has been a common theme for this squad. As they inch toward district play, it’s quite possible that this could be one of the best teams to watch in the 2023-24 season. Be sure to catch them in action as district play starts September 8th at home against Howe.