High Schools, Volleyball

5 storylines ahead of tonight’s volleyball season finales 

By Michael Adams
michael@otssports.com 

The 2023 high school volleyball regular season ends tonight. Several teams have already clinched a playoff berth:

  • Class 6A: Weiss, Hutto, Round Rock, Vandegrift, Vista Ridge, Lake Travis, Dripping Springs, Westlake, and Austin High. 
  • Class 5A: Georgetown, Hendrickson, East View, McCallum, Ann Richards, Austin LASA, Crockett, Rouse, Liberty Hill, Leander, and Cedar Park
  • Class 4A-below: Taylor (4A), Lago Vista (4A), Georgetown Gateway (4A), Wimberley (4A), Thrall (1A), and Thorndale (1A)

Some teams are playing for positioning, others are playing for district titles, and some are playing the role of spoilers. 

Here are five things you need to know ahead of tonight’s matches. 

1. Cedar Creek eyes postseason return

Cedar Creek (8-23, 6-7 District 23-5A) has a lot on the line tonight in its regular season finale at Pflugerville. The Eagles can end a six-year playoff drought with a win over former coach Jayson Langman and the Pflugerville Panthers tonight and a Bastrop loss to first-place Georgetown.  Cedar Creek beat Pflugerville 3-1 in the two team’s first meeting on Sept. 29. 

Langman led Cedar Creek to four-straight playoff appearances between 2014 to 2017. The Eagles have not made it out of the first round of the playoffs. Those four appearances are the only ones in the school’s 11-year history. 

2.  Westwood, Stony Point aim for 4th playoff spot

The Westwood Warriors (19-23, 7-6) and Stony Point Tigers (28-13, 8-5) could have a playoff on Friday for the fourth playoff spot in District 25-6A. Stony Point plays first-place Round Rock tonight, while Westwood takes on sixth-place Cedar Ridge. 

If Stony Point loses to Round Rock and Westwood beats Cedar Ridge, the Tigers and Warriors will meet on Friday. However, if Stony Point beats Round Rock or Westwood loses to Cedar Ridge, the Tigers are in and will play Lake Travis in the opening round of the playoffs. 

3. Taylor could clinch share of District 22-4A title 

The Taylor Ducks (28-12, 10-1 District 22-4A) beat Giddings last week to move into a tie with the Buffaloes for first place. The Ducks play Smithville tonight with a lot on the line for both teams. 

For Smithville, the Tigers need to upset Taylor and have La Grange lose to Manor New Tech to make the playoffs. For Taylor, the Ducks need to win to clinch at least a share of the district title. Taylor could win the title outright with a win and a Giddings loss to third-place Caldwell. 

4. A big showdown in District 24-5A

McCallum and Ann Richards will face off tonight at Ann Richards. The Stars could force a three-way tie with the Knights and Austin LASA for the District 24-5A title with a win. However, McCallum (27-17 14-1) could avoid a three-way tie with LASA and Ann Richards and clinch the title with a win over the Stars. Austin LASA is finished with district play and is 14-2, so all the Raptors can do is watch.

5. Battle of the Lakes still means something

District 26-5A’s playoff teams and placements are already determined, but don’t tell Lake Travis and Westlake that their game tonight is meaningless. 

Lake Travis has secured the No. 1 seed and will play the fourth-place team from District 25-6A in the first round, which will either be Westwood or Stony Point. Westlake is locked into the No. 3 seed and will face 25-6A second place Vandegrift in the first round. 

However, this is a rivalry game and there are bragging rights and winning streaks on the line. Lake Travis has won 17 straight matches and only lost six sets in that streak. Westlake has won six straight matches but hasn’t beaten the Cavaliers in a district match since 2018. Lake Travis is 11-2 against Westlake since that 3-1 loss on Oct. 12, 2018.