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By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal

NEW BRAUNFELS – The New Braunfels Unicorns took an early edge in the District 26-5A race Tuesday.

Behind the stellar play of senior Kingsley Minus and junior outside hitter Shaylie Schaefer, New Braunfels (18-4, 2-0) defeated defending district champions Comal Pieper 3-1 at New Braunfels High School.

The young Warriors (11-4, 0-1) came back from an early 11-4 deficit to win the first set 26-24 behind the play of senior outside hitter Eva Planchet and junior middle blocker Olivia Theis.

After that, it was all New Braunfels for the rest of the match.

Around the Austin-San Antonio region

Cedar Park defeated Westlake 25-23, 25-19, 17-25, 25-16 behind 17 kills from Joy Udoye and 14 from Mya Cheatum. Katelyn Hughes had 19 digs and 20 assits in the non-district win. Chloe Kelley led the Chaparrals with 10 kills. … Juniors Avery Ralston and Alyssa Hall each had eight kills to lead Rouse to a 3-0 win over Anderson in a non-district contest at Rouse High School in Leander. … Stony Point  picked up 25-22, 25-21, 25-23 victory over Cedar Ridge Tuesday to move to 1-1 in District 25-6A. … Junior Mallory Miller had 14 kills to lead Georgetown to a 25-16, 22-25, 25-20, 25-21 win over Vista Ridge. University of Florida pledge Amelia Albright had 30 assists, 12 digs and nine kills. … St. Andrew’s defeated McCallum 25-15, 25-13, 25-20 as the Highlanders move to 12-2 on the year.

College report

Most college teams begin their season this weekend. UTSA and Texas State are both playing in the UTSA Invitational in San Antonio this weekend along with Stephen F. Austin.

The No. 5 Texas Longhorns will be at the Opening Spike Classic in Madison, Wisconsin to face No. 12 Creighton and No. 8 Wisconsin.

No. 9 Texas A&M opend its season Monday at the AVCA FIrst Serve in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Aggies got a double double from senior opposite hitter Logan Lednicky, who had 22 kills and 12 digs to lead Texas A&M to a 25-23, 21-25, 25-21, 25-212 win over No. 11 Minnesota. Lednicky was named woman of the match. The Aggies will be at the Rice Invitational in Houston this weekend and will face the Owls and Central Arkansas.

Player of the Week

Gentry Barker, Lake Travis, OH

The junior was named most valuable player at the Fraulein Fest in New Braunfels last weekend. In the Cavaliers 2-1 win over Comal Canyon in the championship game, Barker had 18 kills and 14 digs against the Cougars in a shootout with Canyon outside hitter Marlee Lightsey (18 kills).

This week’s top 5s

Class 6A

1. Austin High (16-1)

2. Lake Travis (17-4)

3. Comal Canyon (13-7)

4. Round Rock (17-5)

5. Buda Johnson (16-4)

Others: Westlake (15-6), Dripping Springs (12-9), Bowie (13-8), Stony Point (12-9)

Class 5A

1. Weiss (18-2)

2. New Braunfels (18-4)  

3. Liberty Hill (16-5)

4. Cedar Park (13-7)

5. Comal Pieper (11-4)

Others: McCallum (14-7), Rouse (13-9), Smithson Valley (12-6), Leander (10-11)

Class 4A

1. Comal Davenport (16-1)

2. Salado (15-5)

3. Wimberley (15-5)

4. Burnet (11-3)

5. Gateway Prep (8-3)

Others: La Grange (12-7), Canyon Lake (9-5)

Sub 4A

1. Thrall (10-4)

2. St. Andrews (11-2)

3. Lexington (9-6)

4. Fayetteville (10-6)

5. Round Rock Christian (11-9)

Others: Johnson City (9-9), St. Michael’s (8-4)

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