GAMES
RANKINGS
The Woodlands, Klein, Cedar Park power through to Regional Quarterfinals
The strength of District 13-6A volleyball showed through this past Monday and Tuesday as the four 13-6A qualifiers (Westwood, Vandegrift, Vista Ridge and Round Rock) all won their bi-district matchups.
However, the strength of Houston-area District 15-6A shined through Thursday night as second-ranked The Woodlands swept Vista Ridge in three sets while 14th-ranked Klein upended Round Rock in four sets.
Teri Wade's Highlanders weren't challenged much by an up-and-coming Vista Ridge team coached by Holly Lamb. The Woodlands (46-4 overall) swept Vista Ridge (26-20) in straight sets (25-12, 25-18, 25-12) at Brenham High School.
"We always get everyone's best (game), but I'm proud of the girls in staying consistent tonight," stated Wade, who's in her fifth year at the school; she's taken the Highlanders to the Regional Tournament four straight years. "Vista Ridge put up a good fight tonight; they are coached very well and they played well together."
Senior Dylan Maberry slammed a match-high 14 kills and added four total blocks and 15 digs.. Fellow senior Amanda Ifeanyi was all over the court, tallying 11 kills, serving up one ace, making two digs and making one total block.
Junior setter Clara Brower dished out 33 assists, made 10 digs and punched through four kills while senior libero Allie Griffith dug out 10 balls.
The Rangers lose four seniors – Ashley Anderson, Izzy Burratto, Ryanne Johnson and Molly Mastronardt – but will return nine juniors, one sophomore and one freshman to a deep squad next season.
"I'm extremely proud of my team this season," Lamb said afterwards. "We showed tremendous growth throughout the year. The Woodlands is a very good team but I thought our girls fought hard.
The Rangers did have eight players with at least one kill, led by junior Ava Dahl with four and Katelyn Kreinke with three.
"I'm proud of our seniors. Their sophomore year, our program won just six matches. Last year we finished second in district and this year, we made it to the area round. Their work ethic has laid a great foundation for this program moving forward."
Meantime the Round Rock Dragons rallied from a two-game deficit against Klein and broke through for a 25-20 win in Game 3. The Dragons then took a 13-9 lead in Game 4 before a 5-1 scoring run got Klein to within one, 15-14. Later, with the game tied at 18-18, Kate Zora's Bearkats ran off a 3-0 run, leading 21-18. They were able to match Round Rock point-for-point in closing out the match, 25-21.
"This is the largest group of seniors (13) in Round Rock history," Watson declared. "They are one of the hardest-working, supportive group of seniors with which I've had the pleasure of working.
"Their presence will be missed by the coaching staff, as well as their peers."
Senior Lauren Malone finished her illustrious 3-year varsity career at Round Rock with 12 kills. Fellow senior Sarah Keilen added 17 assists, three kills and two aces. Senior Joley Plummer chipped in with two kills and two aces.
The Bearkats used seven aces and six team blocks to power past Round Rock.
Kierstyn McFall made two blocks, had an ace and six digs while dunking 11 kills past the Dragons. Other Klein contributors included Annie Antar (match-high 15 kills, 22 assists, seven digs, one block and one ace); Devan Taylor (match-high 25 digs, 12 kills, one ace and one block) Ariana Brown (six kills, four digs, two aces and one block), Mikayla Simpson (seven kills) and Camy King (23 assists and 10 digs).
Elsewhere Thursday, Cedar Park (24-21) continued its emerging season under first-year coach Lori McLaughlin as the Timberwolves smoked highly-favored Grand Oaks of Houston (37-11) in three sets, 25-20, 27-25 and 25-20.
CPHS Senior Jaelyn Grimm and juniors Avery Cole and Abbi Lemmond each had seven kills, while sophomore Kate Alex slammed six. Cole added four aces and four total blocks and senior Olivia Meyer dished out 31 assists for Cedar Park, who awaits the winner of Friday's College Station/Georgetown East View match for next week's Region III quarterfinals.
VYPE Statewide Team Tennis Regional Tournament Preview
HOUSTON – In just a week the first UIL State Championship of the year will get underway with Team Tennis serving it up in College Station.
But who could get there?
The playoffs push into the Regional Semifinals starting on Thursday across the state with the Regional Final matches set for Friday morning.
VYPE went through each bracket, have provided the matchups, locations, times and some notes on who could get back to College Station.
In Class 6A here is the breakdown.
Region I
Abilene vs Lewisville Marcus (Rose Park Tennis Center – Thurs. 1 p.m.)
El Paso Coronado vs Southlake Carroll (Rose Park Tennis Center – Thurs. 1 p.m.)
Reg. Final – Friday at 9 a.m. at Rose Park Tennis Center
Region II
Allen vs The Woodlands (Mansfield HS – Thurs. 1 p.m.)
Plano West vs Round Rock Westwood (Lake Ridge HS – Thurs. 1 p.m.)
Reg. Final – Friday at 10 a.m. at Mansfield HS
Region III
Seven Lakes vs Clear Lake (Deer Park HS – Thurs. 8:30 a.m.)
Houston Memorial vs Deer Park (Deer Park HS – Thurs. 1:30 p.m.)
Reg. Final – Friday at 9 a.m. at Deer Park HS
Region IV
Westlake vs Harlingen South (Northside Tennis Center – Thurs. 10 a.m.)
Lake Travis vs Laredo Alexander (Northside Tennis Center – Thurs. 10 a.m.)
Reg. Final - Friday at 10 a.m. at Northside Tennis Center
Houston Memorial has become a power program under Budd Booth's direction. The program won a state championship in 2017. Last year, Memorial fell just short to Round Rock Westwood in the 6A State Championship match. If the Mustangs make it through the next two rounds they will be making their 12th state tournament appearance in program history and for the 11th-straight season.
Lake Travis reached the state tournament last year but fell in the semifinals to Memorial. The Cavaliers are seeking their third-ever state tournament berth with a pair of wins this weekend.
So, how does Class 5A – which has been dominated by Highland Park – shake out heading into the Regional Tournament.
Region I
Amarillo vs Colleyville Heritage (Wichita Falls HS – Thurs. 9 a.m.)
Lubbock vs North Richland Hills Birdville (Wichita Falls HS – Thurs. 10 a.m.)
Regional Final – Friday at 9 a.m. at Wichita Falls HS
Region II
Highland Park vs Texarkana Texas (Allen HS – Thurs. 2 p.m.)
Frisco Lebanon Trail vs Ennis (Allen HS – Thurs. 9 a.m.)
Regional Final – Friday at 10 a.m. at Allen HS
Region III
A&M Consolidated vs Shadow Creek (Cinco Ranch HS – Thurs. 8:30 a.m.)
Georgetown vs Friendswood (Katy Taylor HS – Thurs. 8:30 a.m.)
Regional Final – Friday at 9 a.m. at Katy Taylor HS
Region IV
Alamo Heights vs Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway (Alamo Heights HS – Thurs. 8:30 a.m.)
Boerne Champion vs CC Veterans Memorial (Alamo Heights HS – Thurs. 1:30 p.m.)
Regional Final – Friday at 8:30 a.m. at Alamo Heights HS
Plain and simply put, Highland Park owns team tennis. The program is seeking its 32nd state tournament appearance this year to try and go for a fourth-straight Class 5A State Championship. The Scots have built a tradition of tennis excellence, can they add to it in 2019?
Alamo Heights is just behind Highland Park when it comes to number of state tourney appearances. The Mules are seeking their 29th state tournament appearance in 2019. Last season, Alamo Heights felt o Abilene Wylie in the state semifinals, 12-7.
A&M Consolidated is the only other team in the field that made it to the state tourney a year ago before running into Highland Park. This year, the Tigers are seeking what would be the program's eighth state tournament appearance with a pair of wins this week.
The last classification to breakdown in Team Tennis is Class 4A, which Fredericksburg won in 2018 with a 10-6 win over Canyon.
So, who's in the running for a state tourney appearance this fall?
Region I
Hereford vs Burkburnett (Rose Park Tennis Center – Thurs. 9 am)
Canyon vs Vernon (Rose Park Tennis Center – Thurs. 9 am)
Regional Final – Friday at 9 a.m. at Rose Park Tennis Center
Region II
Argyle vs Kilgore (Grapevine HS – Thurs. 8:30 a.m.)
Anna vs Willis Point (Grapevine HS – Thurs. 8:30 a.m.)
Regional Final – Friday at 1:30 p.m. at Grapevine HS
Region III
Center vs Fulshear (Rudder HS – Thurs. 8:30 a.m.)
China Spring vs Needville (Rudder HS – Thurs. 1:30 p.m.)
Regional Final – Friday at 10 a.m. at Rudder HS
Region IV
Fredericksburg vs Zapata (Annemarie Tennis Center – Thurs. 10 a.m.)
Boerne vs La Feria (Annemarie Tennis Center – Thurs. 10 a.m.)
Regional Final – Friday at 10 a.m. at Annemarie Tennis Center
Fredericksburg is going for its third-straight state tournament appearance and going for back-to-back state championships. With a pair of wins this weekend, Canyon will make its second-straight state tournament appearance. Last year, Canyon fell to Fredericksburg 10-6 in the state final. Fulshear is one of the newest programs on the scene and has already made so much noise. Fulshear, the 2019 VYPE Awards Tennis Team of the Year, with two wins this weekend will reach its second-straight state tournament.