By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
Austin-area high school volleyball is on the rise as evident by the seven local teams playing in this week’s state semifinals. You can find semifinal game times and locations here.
The Austin metro area is guaranteed at least two teams in the upcoming state championships in Garland, set for Nov. 21-23.
Here’s what you need to know about each team playing in the state tournament
6A Division I
Westlake
Record: 32-17
Head coach: Miguel Saenz
Last state tournament appearance: 2009
State semifinal matchup: Fulshear (38-6)
Player you may not have heard of: Chloe Kelly, junior, outside hitter (400 kills, 335 digs, .230 HPCT)
What to know: The Chaparrals have faced a lot of adversity this season but have overcome all of it to return to the state semifinals for the first time in 15 years. Senior Trinity Johnson has been exceptional at setter. Johnson (706 assists) was thrown into the starting setter job when sophomore Emerson Buttler was lost with a season-ending injury. Texas beach volleyball signee Lily Davis missed the first month of the season and her leadership on the court is unmatched.
6A Division II
Vandegrift
Record: 33-14
Head coach: Melissa Southall
Last state tournament appearance: 1st appearance
State semifinal matchup: Houston Strafford (41-2)
Player you may not have heard of: Kristi Bishop, senior, defensive specialist (250 kills, 99 aces, 358 digs)
What to know: The Vipers’ Cinderella run has reached the state semifinals. Vandegrift has knocked off a list of who’s who in Texas high school volleyball, starting with Austin High in the first round, New Braunfels Canyon in the regional semifinals and last year’s regional champion San Antonio Harlan on Friday. If you’re looking for that one superstar, you won’t find one. There’s a group of them, which includes junior setter Ava Carrasquillo and junior outside hitter Jenna Hehman.
5A Division II
Cedar Park
Record: 33-15
Head coach: Lori McLaughlin
Last state tournament appearance: 2016
State semifinal matchup: Georgetown (42-8)
Player you may not have heard of: Sienna Benavides, junior, middle blocker (161 kills, 78 blocks)
What to know: The Timberwolves’ offensive power of junior outside hitters Joy Udoye and Mya Cheatum is a bad matchup for any opposing net defense. Just ask 2023 5A state finalist Liberty Hill. However, what goes unnoticed is that all six players on the court can play any position. The Timberwolves are big in the middle with the versatile and athletic Sofia Peters, a 6-foot-2 middle blocker that also has a big swing and has tallied 350 kills with a .325 hitting percentage. The Timberwolves have won 20 straight that began with back-to-back wins over Lake Travis and Georgetown.
Georgetown
Record: 42-8
Head coach: Jenny Richardson
Last state tournament appearance: 2009
State semifinal matchup: Cedar Park (33-15)
Player you may not have heard of: McKenzie Bernard, senior, middle blocker (238 kills, 97 blocks)
What to know: The Eagles have a strong senior class that’s led by University of Texas signee Addison Gaido (606 kills, 366 digs, 40 blocks with a .328 hitting percentage). But you cannot overlook the rest of the front line, which includes seniors Molly O’Shaughnessy (285 kills), Sofia Jazzef (157 kills) and sophomore Amelia Albright (160 kills. Georgetown has a deep roster that will be out to avenge a Sept. 10 loss to Cedar Park.
4A Division II
Salado
Record: 40-7
Head coach: Clint Brown
Last state tournament appearance: 2023
State semifinal matchup: Wimberley (40-3)
Player you may not have heard of: Charli Niu, freshman, setter (828 assists)
What to know: The Eagles’ height creates so many matchup problems for opponents, especially in the middle. Senior Macy Morris (5-foot-10) and junior Elise Law (6-foot-2) have combined for 206 blocks and haven’t committed an error all season. The athletic Law, who is also a standout on the girls basketball team, has 273 kills with a team-best .343 hitting percentage. On the outside, 6-foot-3 senior Kael Wilcox and 5-foot-10 junior Haley Brown provide a lot of offensive firepower. Wilcox has 387 kills while brown has 349. There’s not a visible weakness on this team, which has won 17 out of their last 18 matches.
Wimberley
Record: 40-3
Head coach: Misty Remmers
Last state tournament appearance: 2020
State semifinal matchup: Salado (40-7)
Player you may not have heard of: Addison Parks, junior, outside hitter (339 kills, .278 HPCT)
What to know: Alabama signee Laney Hennessee is one of the top all-around players in the Austin area. She is the heart and soul of the Texans, with team highs in kills (480), aces (59) and hitting percentage (.315). She’s also second on the team with 270 digs. However, she’s got a strong supporting cast in Parks, junior Lilli Sandoval (193 kills), senior libero Rhagen Masur (400 digs) and sophomore middle blocker Sophia Mears (81 blocks). Since losing to Davenport on Oct. 1, Wimberley has only lost one set in its last 12 matches, which was in a 3-1 win over Davenport.
2A Division I
Johnson City
Record: 36-8
Head coach: Heather Wilson
Last state tournament appearance: 1994
State semifinal matchup: Jewitt Leon (38-12)
Player you may not have heard of: Kathryn Johnson, senior, outside hitter/defensive specialist
What to know: What the Eagles lack in size, they make up for with experience. Of the 11 players on Johnson City’s roster only two aren’t seniors. Johnson City’s eight losses are to a list of who’s who of the Texas volleyball powers and includes Class 4A state semifinalists Bellville (DI) and Wimberley (DII) and Class 4A Region II finalist Longview Spring Hill. The Eagles haven’t dropped a set in the playoffs and matches up well against a storied program like Jewitt Leon, which has won seven state championships.