State Championship Preview - Day 2

The first day of the University Interscholastic League (UIL) high school volleyball State Tournament is already in the books in the state of Texas as two teams from divisions 1A and 2A won their semifinals duels at Curtis Culwell Center, in Garland, and have booked their tickets to the Championship Match in their divisions.   We'll continue to keep you informed about everything that's happening in Garland until Sunday with multiple articles here at Prep Dig Texas and part of the content we'll provide will be a daily preview, so you always know what's going to happen every single day and what are the prospects that could play big roles for their teams in the most important moment of the season.   Thursday will be a busy day with three divisions competing and here's the schedule.   Division 1A - Championship Match   D'Hanis vs. Blum - 3 PM   The D'Hanis Cowgirls are set to compete in their first Championship Match after they swept Benjamin in their semifinal matchup on Wednesday. The setter duo of Mabry Herrmann and Jolie Frosch came up big for the team in the match, with the former producing 17 kills, ten digs and six blocks and the latter adding 30 assists, 16 digs, three aces, three blocks and three kills.   The Blum Bobcats will also be chasing their first state, but have been at the Championship Match before on three occasions - this time they advanced with a 3-0 win over Klondike. Freshman outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='216856' first='Kinsley' last='McPherson'] came up big in her State Tournament match with 17 kills and seven digs while junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='177823' first='Ruby' last='Rumohr'] had a great all-around performance with 28 assists, 13 digs, four kills, two blocks and two aces.   Division 3A - Semifinals   Columbus vs. Gunter - 11 AM   The Columbus Cardinals enter the State Tournament with a campaign of 45 wins and just three losses in Region IV. This season will mark their fifth attempt to secure a state title and all of them happened within the last 15 years. The Cardinals have a lethal scorer in junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='201033' first='Ally' last='Tribe'] and her game has been looking even stronger when set by fellow junior Sage Thomas. Junior middle Ember Mandola and senior libero Carina Alonso are also integral parts of the team's success.   The Gunter Lady Tigers emerged from Region II and are set to make their third-straight (and third overall) State Tournament appearance. The team, which lost in the Championship Match last season, has won 41 and lost six matches in this year's campaign. Some of Gunter's key players in the State Tournament will be seniors Miranda Putnicki (middle), Briley Singleton (libero), Hanna Rubis (middle) and Adilynn Henry (setter).   Bushland vs. East Bernard - 1 PM   The Bushland Lady Falcons will be looking to not only defend the state titles they won the last two seasons, but also to improve their total victories to seven. They were the strongest team in Region I with 40 wins and just four losses. The Lady Falcons will rely on their strong and experienced senior core formed by Kaela Neie (outside hitter), Madyson Eberly (middle), Logan Culpepper (setter) and Jada Permenter (libero) to succeed in Garland.   The East Bernard Brahmarettes are even more successful in the division, having claimed as many as 13 state titles - their last victory, however, happened back in 1994. This season, the team emerged from Region III with a campaign of 42 wins and seven losses. Among their key players are senior right side Kellen Dorotik, senior outside hitter Lexie Warnicke and Jenna Krpec and junior libero Bella Dujka.   Division 4A - Semifinals   Randall vs. Hargrave - 5 PM   The Randall Raiders are set to begin their seventh State Tournament campaign on Thursday - they won the state title once, in 2010. This season, the team was a force in Region I with a 38-8 win record. Captain and junior outside hitter Jordy Gove leads a solid Randall team that also gets important contributions from senior libero Tatum Brandt, sophomore setter Sydney Soria and senior outside hitter Tori Lowry.   The Hargrave Lady Falcons have already made history this season as they gave the program its first State Tournament trip ever. To do that, Hargrave was an unlikely force in Region III with 33 wins and 13 losses. Versatile senior setter/outside hitter Brooke Guerrero sets the tone for the team, which also benefits from the solid play of junior setter Anna Campbell, senior middle McKenzie Anderson and sophomore libero Addison Shannon.   Aubrey vs. Bellville - 7 PM   The Aubrey Chaparrals are back in the State Tournament after 13 years and will make their third appearance in the event. With 38 wins and nine losses, they emerged as the top team in Region II. Senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='141116' first='Sydney' last='Garrison'] has been a stud for the Chaparrals, who also have sophomore middle Kynadi Hall, junior setter Olivia Starr and sophomore right side Abby Wright as key contributors.   The Bellville Brahmarettes were the top team in Region IV with a campaign of 39 wins and ten losses that enabled them to fight for their tenth state title in their 18th State Tournament appearance. Sophomore outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='183997' first='Sydney' last='McKay'], senior libero Carly Lange, senior setter Abby Aschenbeck and senior outside hitter Marin Higginbotham form the core of the team.

The first day of the University Interscholastic League (UIL) high school volleyball State Tournament is already in the books in the state of Texas as two teams from divisions 1A and 2A won their semifinals duels at Curtis Culwell Center, in Garland, and have booked their tickets to the Championship Match in their divisions.