By Michael Adams
michael@otssports.com
It’s the final full week of the 2023 high school volleyball season. Teams have two or three games left on the schedule, so let’s look at the playoff picture for the Austin-area squads.
In Class 6A, Weiss, Hutto, Round Rock, Lake Travis and Dripping Springs have punched their postseason tickets. Georgetown, Hendrickson, East View, McCallum, Ann Richards, Austin LASA, Rouse and Liberty Hill have clinched a berth in Class 5A. In Class 4A, Wimberley and Taylor have both earned a playoff berth.
Here’s a district-by-district breakdown of the playoff picture in each district going into Tuesday’s matches.
District 12-6A
Who’s in: Waco Midway (9-0), Weiss (8-2), Hutto (6-3)
Still alive: Copperas Cove (5-5), Bryan (2-7), Harker Heights (2-7)
Who’s out: Temple
The details: Waco Midway can clinch the district title with a win Tuesday… Weiss holds a tiebreaker over Hutto for second place, so the order of playoff seeding is decided should Weiss and Hutto win out… Copperas Cove is in the driver’s seat for the fourth playoff spot and needs just one win in their final two games… Bryan and Harker Heights haven’t been eliminated, but need a lot of help to make the playoffs.
District 25-6A
Who’s in: Round Rock (10-1)
Still alive: Vandegrift (8-3), Vista Ridge (8-3), Stony Point (6-5), Westwood (6-5), Cedar Ridge (4-7)
Who’s out: McNeil, Manor
The details: Round Rock is in and can clinch the district title with two wins, or a win and a Vandegrift and Vista Ridge loss… Vandegrift and Vista Ridge meet on Tuesday with the winner the likely No. 2 seed… Westwood and Stony Point are fighting it out for the final playoff spot and will likely decide that on Friday at Stony Point when the two teams meet… Cedar Ridge will be eliminated with one win by Stony Point and a win by Westwood.
District 25-6A
Who’s in: Lake Travis (12-0), Dripping Springs (11-2), Austin High (10-4), Westlake (10-4)
Still alive: none
Who’s out: Anderson, Bowie, Johnson, Del Valle, Akins
The details: All four playoff tickets have been handed out in District 25-6A. All that’s left now is to determine seeding. Lake Travis can clinch a share of the district title with a win on Tuesday against Akins. The Cavaliers will win the title outright with two wins in its last three games… Dripping Springs is the likely No. 2 seed, but can clinch a share of the district title by winning its final three games – which includes Friday’s match with the Cavaliers – and hope Westlake beats Lake Travis on Oct. 24… Westlake and Austin High will most likely determine the No. 3 seed on Friday when the teams meet at Austin High. The winner of Friday’s match could move into the No. 2 spot should they win out and Dripping Springs loses two of its last three games.
District 23-5A
Who’s in: Georgetown (10-1), Hendrickson (10-1), East View (9-2)
Still alive: Bastrop (5-6), Cedar Creek (5-6), Connally (4-7)
Who’s out: Pflugerville, Elgin
The details: The championship picture is kind of a mess thanks to Hendrickson’s win on Friday over Georgetown. The Eagles have games against Cedar Creek, East View and Bastrop remaining. Hendrickson’s remaining games include East View, Connally and Elgin. The Patriots will need to win out to stay in the championship race… Bastrop, Cedar Creek, and Connally will battle it out for the final playoff spot. Bastrop and Cedar Creek will likely decide who’s the front runner for that playoff spot on Friday when the Bears and Eagles face off at Cedar Creek. Cedar Creek won both matches against Connally and holds the tiebreaker over the Cougars.
District 24-5A
Who’s in: McCallum (12-1), Ann Richards (11-2), LASA (11-2)
Still alive: Crockett (8-4), LBJ (6-7)
Who’s out: Eastside, Travis, Navarro and Northeast
The details: McCallum controls its own destiny and can clinch with two wins this week… Crockett can get in with a win in its last three games. LBJ needs Crockett to lose its remaining three games and win out.
District 25-5A
Who’s in: Rouse (11-0), Liberty Hill (10-1)
Still alive: Leander (7-4), Cedar Park (6-5), Glenn (5-6), Hays (4-7)
Who’s out: Lehman and Lockhart
Notes: Rouse and Liberty Hill play Tuesday with the district title on the line. Rouse can clinch it outright with a win against the Panthers, but LIberty Hill will clinch a share with a win Tuesday… Leander gets in with a win or a Hays loss… Cedar Park holds a tiebreaker over Glenn and just needs to win two of its remaining three games to get in the playoffs… The Grizzlies can get in if they win out and Cedar Park loses two of its remaining three games. Hays needs to win out and have some help to get in.
District 22-4A
Who’s in: Giddings (9-0), Taylor (8-1)
Still alive: Caldwell (5-4), La Grange (5-4), Smithville (4-6)
Who’s out: Manor New Tech and Austin Achieve
Notes: Caldwell and La Grange are both in with a win or a Smithville loss. The Tigers can get in with two losses by La Grange or Caldwell and wins in their final two matches.
District 27-4A
Who’s in: Davenport (9-0), Wimberley (8-2)
Still alive: Navarro (6-3), Boerne (4-5), Fredericksburg (2-7)
Who’s out: Bandera and Canyon Lake
Notes: Davenport will win the district title with one win in its final three games. Wimberley has already punched its postseason ticket but can clinch a share of the district title with wins in its final two matches and two Davenport losses.