High Schools, Volleyball

Tuesday roundup: Tigers fight off scrappy Rangers in bi-district playoff

Dripping Springs libero Ella Kuhn (7) makes a pass during a Class 6A bi-district playoff game at Vista Ridge High School in Cedar Park on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. (Michael Adams/On the Sidelines Sports)

By Michael Adams
michael@otssports.com 

CEDAR PARK – For about 15 minutes, the Vista Ridge Rangers fired everything they could at defending Class 6A state champions Dripping Springs. 

In fact, the Rangers held the lead all the way up until the end of the first set. 

However, it just awakened a sleeping group of Tigers who viciously fought back to beat the Rangers 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-10) Tuesday in a Class 6A bi-distrtict playoff at Vista Ridge High School in Cedar Park. 

“They gave us everything they had at the beginning, hats off to them,” said Dripping Springs head coach Michael Kane. “I thought we got a little sloppy in our first set, but we’re a seasoned team with high expectations. I thought we handled ourselves well and kept our composure.” 

More coverage

Behind junior Sophia Ely and senior Olivia Kelley, Vista Ridge (29-17) jumped out to a 10-3 lead early in the first set. 

Dripping Springs (45-6) fought back behind sophomore outside hitter Henley Anderson and junior RIley Certain to tie the set at 14, but the Rangers didn’t go away and retook the lead and held it until they were two points away from taking the first set. However, the Tigers clawed back and finished the set on a run to win 25-23.

After that, it was all Dripping Springs. 

The TIgers held the lead through most of the second set, but Ely and the Rangers kept it close, eventually falling into a 2 set to 0 hole as Dripping Springs won the second set 25-18. 

The TIgers looked more like the reigning state champions in the third set and cruised to complete the sweep. 

Dripping Springs will face the winner of Cibolo Steele-San Antonio Madison in the area round this weekend. 

For the Rangers, Vista Ridge will return four starters next season including libero Merrick Hammel, outside hitter Jennavee Jensen, Ely, and setter Jasmin Dion. 

In other playoff action from around the Austin area: 

Austin High def. Round Rock: At Round Rock, the Austin High Maroons (29-13) got 10 kills from Riley Mallory and 5 from Savannah Vasher to defeat the District 25-6A champion Round Rock 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-18) in a Class 6A, Region IV bi-district playoff. 

Campbell Bartley had 16 assists, while Kalea Bustamante added 13 assists for the maroons. Aleida Moreno led the defensive effort for the Maroons with 20 digs. 

Austin High moves on to face the winner of San Antonio Reagan-New Bruanfels in the area round. 

Round Rock finishes the season with an overall record of 34-12. 

Lake Travis def. Stony Point: At Lake Travis, the nationally ranked Cavaliers completed the District 26-6A sweep of 25-6A with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-19) victory over Stony Point in a Class 6A, Region IV bi-district playoffs. Lake Travis is ranked No. 25 in MaxPreps’ national rankings. 

Senior Avery Hamlin had 13 kills, while Carrington Jaimes and Camden Besecker added 12 and 10, respectively. Senior Kacey Kazmierski, who is sixth nationally in assists, added 47 to her season total of 1,381. 

Libero Cate Haley led the defensive effort with 29 digs with Hamlin and Kazmierski each recording 13. 

The Cavaliers (42-5) will play Schertz-Clemens in the area round of the playoffs. Stony Point finishes the season with an overall record of 32-14. 

Weiss def. Waxahachie: At Waco University, after dropping the first set, the Weiss Wolves (28-8) went on to defeat Waxahachie 3-1 (23-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-23) in a Class 6A, Region II bi-district playoff. 

The Wolves move on to face Garland Sachee in the area round of the playoffs. 

Mansfield def. Hutto: At China Spring High School, the Hutto Hippos season came to an end Tuesday. The Hippos (21-21) lost to Mansfield 3-0 (25-23, 26-24, 25-20) in a Class 6A, Region II bi-district playoff. 

Cedar Park def. Kerrville Tivy: At Davenport High School, the Cedar Park Timberwolves (29-12) split the first two sets with Tivy before rolling to a 3-1 (25-22, 22-25, 25-23, 25-14) victory over the Antlers in a Class 5A, Region IV bi-district playoff. 

The Timberwolves advance to the area round where they will play Alamo Heights. 

Liberty Hill def. Smithson Valley: At San Antonio Johnson, the Liberty Hill Panthers began their quest to return to the state tournament in three weeks with a 3-0 (25-23, 27-25, 25-20) win in Class 5A, Region IV bi-district playoff against Smithson Valley. 

The Panthers will face Harlandale in the area round.