TAPPS State Championship – Day 3 Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's the biggest week of the year for high school volleyball teams competing at the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) tournament as the State Championship is underway between Wednesday and Saturday in the Waco area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four teams compete for the state title in each of the six conferences and we'll be providing daily updates of everything that's going on, with previews, match results, top performances, and, of course, news on the division champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's everything you need to know for Friday:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Division 3A - Championship Match</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dallas Lutheran vs. Round Rock Christian - @ University HS - 1:30 PM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dallas Lutheran Lions came back to secure a four-set (22-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-19) victory over the Lubbock Christian Lady Eagles in their semifinal bracket. The team will rely heavily on outside hitters Millie Olsson (senior) and Alex Dever (junior) and senior setter Lauren Pittman in the Championship match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Round Rock Christian Crusaders also needed four sets to guarantee their presence in the Championship match as they defeated the Rosehill Christian Eagles from Tomball 3-1 (25-16, 25-16, 19-25, 25-19) in the semifinals. Much of the team's offensive production in the Championship match should come from senior outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='195853' first='Ryann' last='Holley'] and Savannah Johnson while another senior, Reagan Sawyer, is the their starting setter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Division 4A - Championship Match</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grace Pep Academy vs. Brentwood Christian - @ University HS - 4:30 PM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Grace Prep Academy Lions from Arlington needed four sets (25-23, 22-25, 25-23, 25-19) to top the Prince of Peace Christian Eagles from Carrolton and find their way to the Championship match. Much of the team's offensive comes from junior outside hitter Maya Kelly, while senior middle Lacy Young has been a force with her blocking and junior libero Savanna Stevens has been a stud on the backcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Brentwood Christian Bears from Austin had to sweat less to defeat the Veritas Academy Defenders from Austin in three sets (25-13, 25-17, 25-11) in their semifinal. Freshman middle Kendal Roberson has been a revelation for the team, which also counts on senior outside hitter Ashlynn Alvarado and sophomore setter Rayen Flandes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/TAPPSvolleyball/status/1590815358503768064?s=20u0026t=riwL1w07SvfXROPYoJNHkA","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/TAPPSvolleyball/status/1590815358503768064?s=20&amp;t=riwL1w07SvfXROPYoJNHkA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Division 5A - Championship Match</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Liberty Christian vs. Fort Bend Christian Academy - @ University HS - 7:30 PM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Liberty Christian Warriors from Argyle had a solid three-set (25-23, 25-22, 25-19) win over the St. Michael's Catholic Academy Crusaders from Austin on their way to the Championship match. The team has absolute elite-level talent in senior setter/right side [player_tooltip player_id='122892' first='Reagan' last='Fifer'] and junior outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='155126' first='Tally' last='Grissom'] and Quinlan Denney.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending champions Fort Bend Christian Academy Eagles from Sugar Land are one win away from defending their state title after they came from behind to overcome Houston's Lutheran South Academy Pioneers 3-1 (19-25, 25-11, 27-25, 25-18) in the semifinals. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='179893' first='Bayleigh' last='Minor'] is one of the most promising middles in the entire state while sophomore outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='178568' first='Layne' last='Bulow'] is tremendously skilled and senior setter Shea Stone is incredibly reliable.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Division 6A - Semifinals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prestonwood Christian Academy vs. Parish Episcopal - @ Robinson HS - 10 AM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prestonwood Christian Lions (38-1) from Plano were the top team in District 1 with an undefeated campaign of 12 wins. Unbeaten in their last 26 encounters, the Lions topped Ursuline in the playoffs. Outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='181296' first='Macaria' last='Spears'] (sophomore) and [player_tooltip player_id='142201' first='Jadyn' last='Livings'] (junior) are the team's most active offensive players while sophomore libero [player_tooltip player_id='180174' first='Gillian' last='Pitts'] is their defensive stud.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Parish Episcopal Panthers (13-6-1) from Dallas had a surprising run to the State Championship after raking third in District 1 with six wins and five losses - they lost to Prestonwood Christian twice in the regular season. In the playoffs, they beat St. Pius X. Senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='87539' first='Harper' last='Cooper'], sophomore middle [player_tooltip player_id='180166' first='Reese' last='Jackson'] and senior outside hitter Sarah Pickett are some of the team's most important players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/blathletics/status/1590505776313176064?s=20u0026t=bN4-q1FwVu49PCRX6UN64w","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/blathletics/status/1590505776313176064?s=20&amp;t=bN4-q1FwVu49PCRX6UN64w </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bishop Lynch vs. Antonian College Prep - @ Robinson HS - 1 PM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bishop Lynch Friars (32-9) from Dallas also made it to the State Championship from District 1, where they ranked second with nine wins and three losses. The team topped Concordia Lutheran in the playoffs. Junior outside hitter Lolo Lambert is a force at the pin alongside senior [player_tooltip player_id='87555' first='Leah' last='Oyewole'] while senior middle [player_tooltip player_id='87544' first='Lyric' last='Berry'] is a talent at the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Antonian College Prep Apaches (38-11) from San Antonio emerged from District 2, which they dominated with a perfect record of 13 matches. After that, they topped John Paul II in the playoffs. Junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='155128' first='Kalina' last='Calvillo'] is an absolute elite scorer while fellow pin hitter and senior Sujeili Mermella is an excellent all-around player. Also keep an eye on sophomore libero/defensive specialist Anna Arceneaux.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->