By Michael Adams
madams@austinsportsjournal.com
If Dripping Springs wants to win its fourth state championship, the Tigers are going to have their work cut out for them. That’s because the Class 6A Division II bracket is going to be loaded.
The Tigers (44-2), who are ranked No. 6 in the nation by MaxPreps, will first have to get through a brutal Region IV that will also feature District 26-6A runner up Austin High (39-6), last year’s Region IV champion San Antonio Harlan (36-5), District 28-6A champion San Antonio O’Connor (37-7) and New Braunfels Canyon (31-13), who was a 5A powerhouse.
Whoever makes it out of Region IV will play the Region III winner in the semifinals before the No. 1 team in the nation, Trophy Club Byron Nelson (34-1), could be waiting in the championship game.
Liberty Hill (37-7) is looking for its third straight trip to the state semifinals and a return appearance in the state championship game.
The Panthers will have to figure out a way to beat a Cedar Park team that has beat them twice and will take a lot of momentum into the playoffs. The Timberwolves (29-15) will join Liberty Hill in the Class 5A Division II bracket and have a lot of momentum heading into the postseason.
The top two teams from 25-5A have made it to the regional finals in each of the past two years with Liberty Hill defeating Rouse both times.
Wimberley (34-3) will be in the 4A Division II bracket and are the heavy favorites to make it out of Region IV. The Texans are in contention for their seventh state championship in school history and will not have to face defending state champion Davenport since the Wolves will be in the Class 4A Division I bracket.
Wimberley is one of a handful of teams that are Austin’s best chances of winning a state championship in November. The Austin Sports Journal will preview of the UIL state volleyball playoffs Sunday.
For now, here are the final area volleyball rankings:
Class 6A Top 5
| RK., TEAM | RECORD | LW |
| 1. Dripping Springs | 44-2 | 1 |
| 2. Buda Johnson | 38-6 | 3 |
| 3. Austin High | 39-6 | 2 |
| 4. Vandegrift | 29-14 | NR |
| 5. Round Rock | 31-14 | 5 |
Dropped out: Westlake (27-17)
Class 5A Top 5
| RK, TEAM | RECORD | LW |
| 1. Cedar Park | 29-15 | 1 |
| 2. Georgetown | 37-8 | 2 |
| 3. Weiss | 37-10 | 4 |
| 4. Liberty Hill | 37-7 | 3 |
| 5. Anderson | 26-9 | 5 |
Class 4A-Below Top 5
| RK., TEAM | RECORD | LW |
| 1. Wimberley | 36-3 | 1 |
| 2. Salado | 35-6 | 2 |
| 3. Gateway Prep | 25-5 | 3 |
| 4. Johnson City | 32-7 | 5 |
| 5t. Blanco/Llano | 19-18/24-7 | NR/4 |