State Tournament Preview: Divisions 5A and 6A

<p>The wait is over! After three months of elite high school volleyball being played all over the Lone Star State, things are about to get even better as the University Interscholastic League (UIL) State Tournament is held this week.</p> <p>The four regional champions of each division will battle between Wednesday and Saturday for the six state titles and us at PrepDig.com will bring you the best coverage of the event that will take place at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland.</p> <p>Classes 5A and 6A are the last to start play on Friday and here’s what you need to know about today’s matchups:</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>5A</u></strong></p> <p><strong>Lucas Lovejoy (40-6) vs Manvel (37-11) – 11am</strong></p> <p>Defending champions Lucas Lovejoy are in remarkable form once again as the team lost just six times during the regular, one of which in league play to rank second in their district with their 13-1 record. The Leopards lost some key players from last year’s campaign to graduation but have one of the most solid senior cores in the entire state in setter [player_tooltip player_id="87389" first="Averi" last="Carlson"], libero [player_tooltip player_id="87496" first="Ava" last="Camacho"], middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id="99506" first="Rosemary" last="Archer"] and opposite [player_tooltip player_id="140418" first="Grace" last="Milliken"]. A well-coached Manvel team is enjoying their first-ever trip to the State Tournament after going undefeated in district play with 16 wins in their way to secure a 37-11 win record for the season. Freshman setter Kenedy Massie has proved she can be a difference-maker, especially when connecting with junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="87551" first="Devyn" last="Lewis"] and senior middle blocker Mary Katherine Preston.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Comal Canyon (43-8) vs Grapevine (21-17) – 1pm</strong></p> <p>Canyon is back at the State Tournament after five years thanks to a solid 43-8 campaign over the season. The Cougars dropped just one match to win their district and are undefeated in their last 12 meetings. Seniors Alyssa Koehl (libero), Kyla Malone and McKenzie Woitena (outside hitters) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="142200" first="Megan" last="Hawkins"] (setter) are a big part of the team’s success this season. When a team makes it to the State Tournament despite having lost 17 matches in the season and finished third in district, it means it got hot at the right time. And Grapevine expects to carry that momentum to Garland after winning nine straight between the end of the regular season and the playoffs. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id="119921" first="Janet" last="deMarrais"] (outside hitter) and Alea Lastinger (middle blocker) will need to remain in great form for the Mustangs to keep moving forward.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>6A</u></strong></p> <p><strong>Northside Brandeis (45-2) vs Bridgeland (39-11) – 5pm</strong></p> <p>Brandeis has been a force during the regular season and the playoffs, dropping only two matches out of 47 – one in district play – and being in the middle of a 23-match winning streak. The Broncos have last lost a match at the end of August and will count on senior setter [player_tooltip player_id="87499" first="Carlee" last="Pharris"] and their strong outside hitter duo of [player_tooltip player_id="87481" first="Jalyn" last="Gibson"] (senior) and [player_tooltip player_id="99492" first="Emma" last="Halstead"] (junior) to go all the way to the end. Their opponents are a solid Bridgeland team that what was second in district with a 12-2 record and won 39 and lost 11 the entire season. Senior setter Brooke Adams has formidable hitters to work with in opposite Olivia Waggoner (junior), outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id="99515" first="Mallorie" last="Garner"] (senior) and [player_tooltip player_id="87547" first="Kennedy" last="Kays"] (junior) and middle blockers Karrington Kays and Emily Marks (seniors).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Fort Bend Ridge Point (38-10) vs Keller (31-12) – 7pm</strong></p> <p>Ridge Point has emerged victorious in a tough district in the Houston arena thanks to a 38-10 win record after the Panthers went undefeated in district play with 14 wins. The senior trio of [player_tooltip player_id="87480" first="Alexis" last="Roberson"] (middle blocker), Nina Moorer (right sider) and Nylah Raspberry (libero) and junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="87531" first="Sydney" last="Jordan"] have come up clutch in big moments to help the team. Undefeated in their last 18 matches, Keller cruised past their district with 12 wins to improve their overall record to 31-12 ahead of the State Tournament. The Indians have top producers in outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id="151749" first="Melanie" last="McGann"] (senior) and Reagan Sharp (sophomore), middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id="141125" first="Leah" last="Ford"] (junior) and setter [player_tooltip player_id="87577" first="Taylor" last="Polivka"] (junior).</p>