State Championship Top Performers – Day 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second day of the University Interscholastic League (UIL) high school volleyball State Tournament is now completed and we already have the first champions crowned - Blum in Division 1A. Divisions 3A and 4A also had matches going on in Garland and Thursday and both of them already know the two teams that will be playing in the Championship Match on Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As was the case with the first day of competition, some really strong performances were displayed at the Curtis Cowell Center on Thursday and, as part of our daily coverage of the event, we'll highlight the most productive player in each match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are the names that were talked about the most on Thursday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Rayanna Mauldin","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Gunter","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"1 United Volleyball Club","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The senior outside hitter came up big for Gunter, leading her team in their sweep of Columbus in Division 3A State Semifinals and back to the Championship Match after finishing second last season. A very complete player, Mauldin delivered on both sides of the ball, providing the firepower the team needed to score and the defensive stability it needed for the game to flow. She led the Lady Tigers in kills with 11, got the second most digs (12) and still tallied a pair of block and one ace.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6376fd129c482"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kaela Neie","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bushland","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Amarillo Xtreme","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Bushland is just one away from a three-peat in Division 3A after their 3-1 victory against East Bernard in the semifinals and that match showed how important Neie is for the Lady Falcons. The star outside hitter played a fantastic all-around match and led her team to a solid display in Garland. Neie was strong at the net with 16 kills and a match-high four blocks, but also produced on the backcourt with eight digs and a pair of aces.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6376fd129c4d3"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/uiltexas/status/1593359057351491585?s=20u0026t=Q5Tx_1YddDUchju4iLqpHw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/uiltexas/status/1593359057351491585?s=20&amp;t=Q5Tx_1YddDUchju4iLqpHw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["216856"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Blum had made it to the Championship Match in the last two seasons, but had to settle for second place. This year, they won, with a sweep of D'Hanis. The difference? Many would say it's McPherson, the freshman who hit the ground running in her first year of high school volleyball outside hitter. She has been extremely productive all season and produced another excellent performance in the most important moment of the season, registering 17 kills, six digs and one ace to be named Championship Match MVP.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6376fd129c50e"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/uiltexas/status/1593391185401348098?s=20u0026t=Q5Tx_1YddDUchju4iLqpHw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/uiltexas/status/1593391185401348098?s=20&amp;t=Q5Tx_1YddDUchju4iLqpHw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='252886' first='Jordyn' last='Gove']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Randall","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Randall are set to fight for the second state title 12 years after they first won it and team captain Gove has been a key piece in the team's success. It was no different in the Division 4A State Semifinals, when she led her team to a sweep of Hargrave. Gove was on fire, registering 16 kills (more than twice as many the second top scorer in her team did) and also led the Raiders on defense with 15 digs - she also had two blocks and one ace.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6376fd129c5c7"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["141116"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Aubrey's star outside hitter came up big for her team as they came from behind to claim the second spot in Division 4A Championship Match with a big five-set victory against Bellville. Garrison was flawless in both areas of the game and registered a strong double-double of 18 kills and 21 digs. She also had three aces and a block to complete a stellar display in Garland.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6376fd129c98f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kellen Dorotik","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32925","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"East Bernard","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Katy United","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"We typically only highlight players from winning teams, but felt forced to a find space to feature Dorotik after her outstanding performance against Bushland. The left-handed right side hitter carried a heavy load leading East Bernard's offense in the semifinal, registering an impressive 26 kills, and still had 13 digs and a block. Despite her efforts, the Brahmarettes couldn't handle the back-to-back defending champions.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6376fd129c9dd"} /-->