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VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS: Seven Lakes powers past Dawson, 3-0, advance to Region III-6A Final
SUGAR LAND - Three years ago Seven Lakes made history marching into the Regional Final for the first time ever.
The lone player still on the roster today from that team – Ally Batenhorst.
The Under Armour All-American and her now fellow seniors have gotten the Spartans back within a win of the UIL State Tournament following a 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-22) victory over Pearland Dawson on Monday at Wheeler Fieldhouse.
"Freshman year I was obviously the youngest and I was looking up to a bunch of people," Ally said. "My older sister (Danielle) was a great leader to me and I think now being a senior I think I'm in the same position she was and I learned from her in that way. I'm more of a leader now for the team instead of a follower."
IT'S AN ACE!!!! @7LakesVBnews is heading to the Regional Finals for the first time since 2017. Seven Lakes wins 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-22) to advance. #txhsvb @allybatenhorstt @caseyybate @Mayowaolibale @katyisd @KatyISDAthletic @HTownHSS pic.twitter.com/tODgSl5tz5
— vypehouston (@vypehouston) December 1, 2020
Dawson (23-3) was in its fourth-straight Regional Semifinal and will graduate just four seniors – Madison Petten, Alexia Jones (Houston Baptist), Chelsea Sanker and Kylie Nance – as they head into 2021.
Pearland Dawson was a program that lost 10 seniors off last year's team and despite that, an unprecedented offseason and an unconventional non-district slate, still reached the fourth round.
"I am extremely proud of them for persevering and fighting through," Pearland Dawson coach Lauren Leth said. "I was very proud of them. We will miss our [current] seniors but we are very excited about our returning talent. Because even our juniors we had playing this year were new to varsity. There's a lot of youth on that team, so we're excited to see what they're going to do next year."
Seven Lakes improves to a remarkable 24-1 and have won five-straight matches losing just one set in that streak.
The Spartans advance to the Region III-6A Championship later this week where they will face either Katy or Clear Springs, who play on Tuesday.
"It's a great feeling and a huge accomplishment," Seven Lakes coach Amy Cataline said. "We have so many great teams in our region. To be one of the last ones standing is super special. It's just a testament to the talent, work ethic and commitment all these girls have."
VYPE Postgame: @7LakesVBnews senior @kaileycbickel talks with VYPE. She had the final Ace of the match. One of 10 seniors on team. #txhsvb @katyisd @KatyISDAthletic @caseyybate @Mayowaolibale @allybatenhorstt pic.twitter.com/QYuFI8ehI2
— vypehouston (@vypehouston) December 1, 2020
This Seven Lakes senior class is locked, loaded and motivated.
With 10 seniors, that is an impressive class for any coach to carry on the roster and they were all freshmen when Seven Lakes last made a run to the Regional Finals and eventually to the 2017 UIL State Volleyball Tournament.
"They were all here and so they want to do what they saw all those upperclassmen do," Cataline said.
When Seven Lakes lost in the area round to Cy-Fair a year ago, Mayo Olibale said the then-juniors started talking about their goals for 2020 - their last season.
"We were just like 'it's our last year, we want to go out with a bang'," Olibale, a Harvard-signee, said. "We want to leave a good legacy and be leaving on a good note. We've been talking about this since the last game we had last season."
VYPE Postgame: @7LakesVBnews senior and @harvardwvball signee @Mayowaolibale talks after the big win for the Spartans. #txhsvb @KatyISDAthletic @katyisd @caseyybate @allybatenhorstt @HTownHSS @KPRC2RandyMc @alexradow pic.twitter.com/th2ljkhOfA
— vypehouston (@vypehouston) December 1, 2020
For libero Kailey Bickel, who had the final ace of Monday's 3-0 win over Pearland Dawson, said she knew this group was special back in January during the offseason.
"We knew with 10 seniors, great starting lineup, great followers, just a great team," the Berry College-commit said. "We knew all together we need to leave it as strong as we can."
For SMU-commit Casey Batenhorst her memory of the last time Seven Lakes reached the Regional Final and eventual State Tournament came from the stands. Casey was just an eighth grader at the time watching older sisters Danielle and Ally play.
Casey remembers the heart and intensity of that team and watching that team made her love volleyball even that much more.
"The game against Ridge Point [in the third round in 2017] made me love volleyball," Casey said. "I just wanted to be there with them."
VYPE Postgame: Caught up with junior @caseyybate after the win. She has well over 800 assists for the season now. Was an 8th grader last time @7LakesVBnews was in Regional Final. #txhsvb @allybatenhorstt @KatyISDAthletic @Mayowaolibale @kaileycbickel pic.twitter.com/4ynkT3wRJt
— vypehouston (@vypehouston) December 1, 2020
And now she is.
As Cataline paces the sideline with her clipboard watching, the coach is just soaking in every moment with this senior class.
"I just can't wait to see them on the court again, they just want it so bad," she said about the team. "They're just playing at a different level right now because they want it so bad."
VYPE Postgame: Caught up with @Huskervball signee @allybatenhorstt to talk the win and being in Regional Final for first time since she was a freshman. 2nd Regional Final for her. #txhsvb @LJSSportsWagner @7LakesVBnews @SusanBatenhorst @caseyybate @Mayowaolibale @KPRC2RandyMc pic.twitter.com/WmIYqdRcFC
— vypehouston (@vypehouston) December 1, 2020
Plano West is always a contender for state
DFW's FAB FOUR Class 6A State Contenders
It's time for playoff volleyball in the state of Texas, so let's start in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Who can get to the Class 6A State Finals? VYPE has crunched the numbers and researched the schedules and here's what our crystal ball is telling us.
No. 1 Northwest Nelson (Byron Nelson) (13-3, 10-2, 81.2% win percentage)
As the reigning 6A UIL Volleyball State Champions, Byron Nelson has a great shot at going two-for-two and getting their second-straight title. The Bobcats came into an unprecedented season ready to continue showing the state what championships are made of. Byron Nelson is coming off of district play with a two-match losing streak against a hard fought Southlake Carroll and V.R. Eaton. They should come into playoffs strong and ready to make up for their last two losses. The defending state champs had a 4-1 defeat over Plano West in the 2019-2020 UIL State finals match (21-25, 25-12, 22-25, 25-15, 15-7). The Bobcats are currently ranked as the No. 6 team in 6A volleyball according to MaxPreps.
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No. 2 Plano West (17-3, 12-2, 85% win percentage)
Plano West made it all the way to the state finals in 2019 only to be defeated by Byron Nelson. That chip on their shoulder might have been all they needed to only allow 15 set losses (only three match losses) the entire regular season. With big wins over teams like Flower Mound Marcus and Highland Park, the Wolves finished second in their district. According to MaxPreps, Plano West is ranked as the No. 7 team in 6A volleyball- just behind defending state champions Byron Nelson. With everything to prove, we can expect to see the Wolves enter playoffs strong and demanding. Plano West is coming into playoffs after a 3-0 loss to Flower Mound. The Wolves are set to face off against Coppell who they recently had a 3-2 defeat over.
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No. 3 Flower Mound (18-1, 14-1, 94.7% win percentage)
Flower Mound came into the 2020 season strong, dropping only five sets total and losing only one match. We should expect the Jaguars to come into playoffs strong as they push forward on an 8-game win streak with big wins over teams like Plano West, Coppell, Southlake Carroll, and Denton Guyer in regular season play. Flower Mound has absolutely nothing to lose which is why they might have one of the best shots at winning the 6A volleyball state title this year. The Jaguars have been the most consistent throughout the season and are looking to add another title to their belt while leaving no room for mercy. The last time Flower Mound won the title was in the 2018-2019 season. In 2019, Flower Mound lost in the quarter finals to Byron Nelson who eventually went on to win state. The Jaguars are ranked No. 1 in their district and No. 1 in Texas Conference 6A according to MaxPreps.
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No. 4 Denton Guyer (11-5, 10-2, 68.8% win percentage)
Although Guyer has a lower win percentage, the Wildcats may be a sleeper in playoffs. In the 2019-2020 season, Guyer made it all the way to the state semifinals where they lost to Byron Nelson (2019-2020 state champions). With five losses this season- knowing that they are and can be better than their record shows, the Wildcats are going to want to prove their strength in playoffs. It might prove to be a tough road, but the Wildcats have shown their nature of resiliency time and time again. It's far too early to count them out in the running for the state title. Guyer is set to face Flower Mound Marcus as they enter playoffs.