5A Bracket Busters: Region 3&4

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last weekend before playoffs are among us, and we have some bracket-busting teams we need to discuss before the bi-district round. Anything can happen in the playoffs that's for sure. 5A Regions 3 and 4 are filled with teams that are trying to make the final push even if they didn't finish first in their district. Below we will highlight those teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"textAlign":"center"} --> <h2 class="has-text-align-center">Region 3</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3>Georgetown</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I like Georgetown as a bracket buster because of their strong middle and right-side game. Their middle [player_tooltip player_id='179899' first='Addison' last='Gaido'] is the kill leader and is hitting well over a .300. Setter/right side Kate Stengle is right behind her in kills and runs the offense on the back row as setter. Georgetown is able to stay in system a lot because of libero Alexis Flora, who leads the district in digs as well. Georgetown may have finished second but they know how to come back and win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3>Friendswood</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friendswood has been making waves in Region 3 all year. They've been steadily ranked in the top 10, their only loss coming from Manvel in 5 sets. They are very well-rounded offensively and that will propel them in the long run. They have 4 hitters with 200 kills or more this season. Both middle blockers [player_tooltip player_id='181367' first='Kaitlyn' last='Gotsch'] and [player_tooltip player_id='124149' first='Isabella' last='Thompson'] led the district in blocks. They block well, pass well, and have lots of options in the pin position. They often change it up and that can be hard to scout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3>College Station</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>College Station finished 3rd in their district, but wow did they have a tough district. No one in that district came out perfect. Avery Psencik is the team kill leader and top 5 in the district for kills. Carson Thiebaud is the district blocking leader by a long shot with 137. She is a beast at the net. College Station has a lot of good pieces on the court. Libero Ava Martindale leads the district in digs and she is very solid in serve receive as well. College Station plays well as a team, and they could easily knock off a #1 or #2 team on their side of the bracket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"textAlign":"center"} --> <h2 class="has-text-align-center">Region 4</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3>Canyon</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Canyon is one of the biggest post-season threats in Region 4. They are smart, disciplined, and a part of a well-oiled machine that is Canyon Volleyball. They were just at the state final four last year and know how to win big down the stretch. Canyon has 3 huge playmakers, 2 seniors, and a junior. Senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='141247' first='Maya' last='Jones'] on the outside, senior libero Isabell Woo, and junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='142200' first='Megan' last='Hawkins'] are all a huge part of Canyon's success over the past two seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3>Cedar Park</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cedar Park plays a very tough pre-season, scheduling almost all 6A teams. Cedar Park competed really well all season and they are prepared for the playoffs. Sophomore libero [player_tooltip player_id='179887' first='Callie' last='Krueger'] has been a rock all season for Cedar Park, digging and passing well in serve receive. They also have one of the best setters, San Jose commit [player_tooltip player_id='87574' first='Dylan' last='Gilkey'] running the offense with over 1,100 assists this season. Cedar Park is in a good position in Region 4 to come in and make some major moves into the Regional Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All State nominations: Send us your nominations by email or on Twitter. Here are the handles you can send to: (Twitter: @PrepDigTX or myself @CoachMikeDZ or Mallori Howington @MalloriHowie or Guilllerme Torres @grtorres).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->