By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
Here are previews of every Class 6A, 5A and 4A championship game at this weekend’s UIL volleyball state championships at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland:
Class 6A Division I
Pearland Dawson (42-4) vs. Northwest Nelson (41-0), 4 p.m., Saturday
State titles/appearances
Byron Nelson: The Bobcats won both of the state championship matches they have appeared in. They beat Plano East in 2019 and Houston Stratford last year.
Pearland Dawson: The Eagles are making their first appearance in a state final.
The road to Garland
Byron Nelson – def. Mansvield Lake Ridge 3-1; Midland 3-0, Plano East 3-0, Cypress Ranch 3-0. Pearland Dawson – def. Fort Bend Travis 3-0, League City Clear Springs 3-0, Lamar Fulshear 3-0, Katy Seven Lakes 3-0, San Antonio O’Connor 3-2.
Players to watch
Byron Nelson: Senior outside hitter Ashlyn Seay (Rice), junior setter Sophee Peterson, junior libero Savannah Sterna, senior outside hitter Kylie Kleckner (Washington).
Pearland Dawson: Senior outside hitter Avery Koonsen, senior middle hitter Julia Wright, senior libero Jenna Thedford, senior outside hitter Sloane Ranney.
Class 6A Division II
Austin High (41-6) vs. Southlake Carroll (34-5), 6 p.m., Saturday
State titles/appearances
Austin High: The Maroons are making their second state championship appearance, but first since winning a state title in 1992.
Southlake Carroll: The Dragons are making their third state championship appearance, but first since 2013. Southlake Carroll is seeking its first ever volleyball state title.
The road to Garland
Austin High – def. Vista Ridge 3-1, Harlan 3-0, Laredo Alexander 3-0, Dripping Springs 3-1, Katy Tompkins 3-2. Southlake Carroll – def. Mansfield Legacy 3-0, El Paso Coronado 3-0, Plano West 3-0, Flower Mound 3-0, Tomball 3-0.
Players to watch
Austin High: Senior outside hitter Riley Malloy (USC), junior middle blocker Camille Presley (Texas), Junior libero Laven Blumoff (Denver), senior setter Maggie McCaroll (Arkansas),
Southlake Carroll: Senior outside hitter Layla Austin (San Diego State), Senior middle blocker Kinsley Young (TCU), senior middle blocker Abby Huddleston, senior setter Emma Eyster.
Class 5A Division I
A&M Consolidated (46-5) vs. Highland Park (42-3), 11 a.m., Saturday
State titles/appearances
A&M Consolidated: The Tigers are making their third state championship appearance, but first since 2013. A&M Consolidated has yet to win a state championship.
Highland Park: The Scots are also making their third state championship appearance, and first since 2008. Highland Park has never won a state title in volleyball.
The road to Garland
A&M Consolidated – def. Pasadena 3-1, Beaumont West Brook 3-1, Anderson 3-0, College Station 3-0, New Braunfels 3-1. Highland Park – def. Frisco Heritage 3-0, Melissa 3-0, Lake Belton 3-0, McKinney North 3-0, Aledo 3-0.
Players to watch
A&M Consolidated: Freshman outside hitter Harper Korenek, Senior setter Jillian Vinal, senior outside hitter Samantha Smith, senior middle blocker Berkley White.
Highland Park: Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Tommay, sophomore opposite hitter Sarah Floyd, senior middle hitter Brooklyn Bailey (Memphis), Senior libero Gigi Whann (Arizona)
Class 5A Division II
Cedar Park (38-12) vs. Argyle (38-3), 11 a.m., Saturday
State titles/appearances
Cedar Park: The Timberwolves are in search of their first state championship in their fourth state final appearance.
Argyle: The Eagles are making their seventh state championship appearance and are seeking their first state title since 2015.
The road to Garland
Cedar Park – def. Boerne-Champion 3-1, San Antonio Edison 3-0, Liberty Hill 3-0, Friendswood 3-0. Argyle – def. Fort Worth Brewer 3-0, Joshua 3-0, Wylie 3-0, Grapevine 3-0, Frisco Liberty 3-1.
Players to watch
Cedar Park: Senior outside hitter Joy Udoye (Stanford), senior setter Katelyn Hughes, senior outside hitter Mya Chetham (Incarnate Word), senior middle blocker Sienna Benavides.
Argyle: Freshman outside hitter Alexis Elsey, sophomore middle blocker Sophia Durik, Senior outside hitter Susanna Hodson, senior defensive specialist Teagan Barnett.
Class 4A Division I
La Vernia (43-9) vs. Decatur (41-7), 4 p.m., Friday
State titles/appearances
La Vernia: The Lady Bears are making their first state championship appearance.
Decatur: The Lady Eagles are making their seventh state championship appearance and are seeking their first state title since 2014.
The road to Garland
La Vernia – def. Uvalde 3-0, Comal Davenport 3-2, Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway 3-0, Corpus Christi Calallen 3-1, Bellville 3-0. Decatur – def. Fort Worth Southwest 3-0, Stephenville 3-0, Canyon West Plains 3-0, Springtown 3-1, Lindale 3-0.
Players to watch
La Vernia: Senior outside hitter Paisley Pavliska, Senior outside hitter Avery Keck, senior middle blocker Emily Kosub, senior libero Karis Carpenter.
Decatur: Sophomore outside hitter Ava Green, senior middle blocker Kate Hudson, senior defensive specialist Tatum Huff, senior setter Grace Fortune.
Class 4A Division II
Wimberley (46-5) vs. Eagle Mountain (37-11), 6 p.m., Friday
State titles/appearances
Wimberley: The Texans are making their 12th state championship apperance and are in search of the program’s eighth state championship.
Eagle Mountain: The Knights are making their first state championship appearance.
The road to Garland
Wimberley – def. Manor New Tech 3-0, Geronimo Navarro 3-0, Sweeny 3-0, Comal Canyon Lake 3-0, Salado 3-0. Eagle Mountain – def. Fort Worth Dunbar 3-0, Lubbock Cooper Liberty 3-0, Canyon 3-0, Canyon Randall 3-0, Longview Spring Hill 3-0.
Players to watch
WImberley: Senior outside hitter Lilli Sandoval, senior setter Cameron Thames, freshman outside hitter Trinity Laney, senior middle blocker Mariah McCoy.
Eagle Mountain: Senior middle blocker Keoni Williams, senior outside hitter Brooke Lacewell, junior outside hitter Avery Williams, senior libero Lexi Nichols.
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