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RANKINGS
Foster Water Polo's Jasmine Brown & Connie Garcia
THE RECAP: UIL Water Polo/Team Tennis 2024 State Tournament Results
Over the course of this past week, numerous state champions were ultimately decided in the first edition of the UIL Fall tournaments.
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At the Josh Davis Natatorium in San Antonio, two Houston heavyweights in Brazoswood (26-2) and Foster (30-0) advanced to the 6A Girls Finals, on the heels of defeating Southlake Carroll (Score: 14-8) and Boerne-Champion (Score: 23-4), respectively.
Both faced off this past Saturday, in what was a hard-fought battle that was ultimately decided by an 11-9 overtime victory for Brazoswood.
This marked the first state title for the Buccaneers, who denied the back-to-back champs Foster the opportunity to secure a three-peat.
In terms of accolades, Brazoswood's Mallory Kesler (Sr.) was named the State MVP, with Kinley Niles (Foster), Gigi Lower (Brazoswood), Cassidy Jacks (Foster), Hope Kadlecik (Brazoswood), Cayden VanDyne (Boerne-Champion), and Sydney Rubin (Southlake Carroll) being named to the 2024 All-Tournament team.
On the boys' side, Clear Creek (30-0-1) defeated perennial state contender Foster, by the score of 19-12, while Marcus (22-0) toppled Boerne-Champion (Score: 22-16) in order to move on to the State Final.
By the end of regulation, it would be the Clear Creek Wildcats who dethroned the 2023 state champions Marcus Marauders, in a definitive 14-10 triumph on Saturday afternoon.
Clear Creek senior Jamie De Zwart was named State MVP, while the All-Tournament team included Owen Kroh (Marcus), Ethan Jerla (Clear Creek), Landon Heuer (Marcus), Caden Digby (Clear Creek), Bexon Harrison (Boerne-Champion), and Foster's Ethan Molina.
Regardless of the result, all sides should feel pride in the dominance they've shown since the sport was finally recognized by the UIL in 2021.
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Meanwhile, at the Baylor University Tennis Center, there was a slew of teams competing for gold this past Thursday.
In the Class 4A bracket, the two squads who climbed all the way to the top were Canyon Randall (33-1) and Willis Point (21-3).
When all was said and done, however, it was Randall who took the title home after winning 10-4, to reclaim their 2022 championship-status.
Abilene Wylie (23-5) and Frisco Centennial (19-2) went head-to-head, representing the 5A classification, with the Centennial Titans emerging victorious (Score: 10-2), marking their second-straight title acquisition.
Last, but not least, in Thursday's proceedings, the UIL-6A Final came down between Round Rock Westwood (19-0) and Seven Lakes (17-3-1).
Despite a valiant effort by Seven Lakes, the, now, back-to-back-to-back State Champs Westwood Warriors were simply too much to handle, having won it all by the score of 10-3, also marking the fifth time in seven years that the program has done so.
The stars of 2024-25 Seven Lakes Volleyball
READY THE TROOPS: No. 9 Seven Lakes on a mission to State
NO. 9 -- SEVEN LAKES SPARTANS
Head Coach: Amy Cataline
2023: 29-16/Region III-6A Finalists
THE SPARTANS WERE ON THE DOORSTEP OF RETURNING TO THE CLASS 6A STATE VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT A YEAR AGO.
However, Seven Lakes fell just short in the Region III-6A Championship bout against familiar district opponent Cinco Ranch.
There should be cause for optimism, however, considering five starters return for eighth-year coach Amy Cataline (450-192 in 17th year coaching).
The reigning District 19-6A Newcomer of the Year Megan Chapman led the team with 603 digs in 2023. Chapman is also on the AVCA Phenom and PrepVolleyball Class of 2026 watch lists.
Florida International-commit Kate Kuehn is back after earning second-team, all-district honors alongside teammate Gracie Hobin. Kuehn logged 492 assists in 2023, while Hobin chipped in 189 kills from her spot.
Others to watch as well include Lily Lott (215 kills) and St. Thomas University Minnesota-commit Heidi Wingate (194 kills). Lott was an honorable mention, all-district pick, while Wingate was also a TGCA All-Star selection.
This Spartans team is always one to watch in Houston with a talented roster year-in and year-out.