Texas HS Decision Day: Four Matches to Watch

The first phase of the Texas High School volleyball season is about to be completed as this Tuesday, October 24, almost every University Interscholastic League (UIL) district around the Lone Star State will conclude its calendar, determining the teams that will move forward to the playoffs and their matchups for the bi-district round, which begins on October 30.   Prep Dig will be following the 'Decision Day' closely, covering matches and providing updates, but we'd also like to point out four duels in different regions of the state that have what it takes to be exciting ones on the last day of district play:   Fulshear vs. Foster - 6:30 PM - @ Fulshear HS   Perennial contenders in Division 5A - District 20, the Fulshear Chargers and the Foster Falcons will meet on the last day of action with the district title on the line. Playing at home, Fulshear enter the match in a comfortable position, having won all their 13 district matches, including a three-setter against Foster on the road in round one. In order to clinch the title, the Chargers will count on their stellar junior quartet of outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='179898' first='Bailey' last='Warren'] (332 kills, 231 passes, 165 digs) and [player_tooltip player_id='225557' first='Lauren' last='Witte'] (271 kills, 299 passes, 160 digs, 49 aces), libero [player_tooltip player_id='179896' first='Sydney' last='Black'] (258 digs, 248 passes) and setter [player_tooltip player_id='253963' first='Alexys' last='James'] (761 assists, 98 kills, 49 aces). The Falcons, who only lost to Fulshear and hold a 12-1 district record, have in senior middle [player_tooltip player_id='307452' first='Jackie' last='Onyechi'] (275 kills, 67 blocks), junior outside hitter Brooke Barnes (233 kills, 172 digs), senior libero Eden Fairfield (362 digs, 38 aces) and senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='198017' first='Brinleigh' last='Davis'] (681 assists, 167 digs) their most important players.    Plano West vs. Flower Mound - 6:30 PM - @ Plano West HS   The Division 6A - District 6 title remains open and two of the top teams them will meet on Tuesday. Currently in third place with ten wins and three losses, the Plano West Wolves need the win to have a shot at moving up - they topped Flower Mound in five sets on the road in round one and will try to do it again in front of their fans. Leading the Wolves at the net, senior middle Kate Mansfield (418 kills, 123 blocks) is having a very productive season, as well as sophomore outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='293180' first='Blaire' last='Bowers'] (230 kills, 517 passes, 232 digs), junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='227874' first='Sophia' last='Wei'] (652 assists, 247 digs, 47 aces) and sophomore libero [player_tooltip player_id='305666' first='Katelyn' last='Vo'] (360 passes, 276 digs). The district leaders with 11 wins and two losses, the Flower Mound Jaguars will take the title with a win. Their most productive players have been senior outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='142211' first='Catherine' last='Young'] (295 kills, 399 passes, 252 digs) and [player_tooltip player_id='124102' first='Brianna' last='Watson'] (245 kills, 284 passes, 260 digs, 50 aces), senior middle [player_tooltip player_id='197075' first='Caroline' last='Tredwell'] (200 kills, 109 blocks) and senior setter Chloe O'Brien (439 assists, 112 digs, 24 aces).    Westlake vs. Lake Travis - 6:30 PM - @ Westlake HS   The Westlake Chaparrals and the Lake Travis Cavaliers will both represent Division 6A - District 26 in the postseason. With 11 wins and four losses, the Chaparrals are currently in third place but had a slight chance of moving up to second. Undefeated in their last six matches, they have a strong outside hitter duo with junior [player_tooltip player_id='179919' first='Lily' last='Dee Davis'] (555 kills, 608 passes, 466 digs, 55 aces) and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='694108' first='Allie' last='Hudgins'] (409 kills, 424 passes, 267 digs, 49 aces). Other key players for Westlake are senior setter Reese Ramsey (679 assists, 184 digs, 22 aces) and senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='124160' first='Reese' last='Emerick'] (569 digs, 472 passes, 42 aces). Lake Travis have already clinched the district title but will try to complete their calendar with a perfect record of 16 wins - they topped Westlake in three sets in round one. Senior right side [player_tooltip player_id='177544' first='Avery' last='Hamlin'] (394 kills, 190 assists, 403 digs, 256 passes, 53 blocks), senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='202719' first='Kacey' last='Kazmierski'] (1,226 assists, 341 digs, 58 aces), senior outside hitter Camden Besecker (296 kills, 31 aces) and senior libero Cate Hanley (545 digs, 414 passes, 32 aces) have been some of the reasons for their outstanding season.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/ltvolleyball/status/1715578562093150528?s=20 </div></figure>   Sharyland vs. Pioneer - 7:00 PM - @ Sharyland HS   Already crowned as Division 5A - District 31 champions, the Sharyland Rattlers will host the Pioneer Diamondbacks in their last district match of the season. Undefeated in their last 41 matches, Sharyland have 17 victories in district play and will try to keep their record perfect ahead of the playoffs. Junior right side Kassanda De La Garza (563 assists, 296 kills, 233 digs, 61 aces), junior outside hitter Kenisha Martinez (485 kills, 341 digs, 330 passes, 66 aces), senior setter Kaitlin Rodriguez (530 assists, 155 digs, 84 aces) and freshman outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='443037' first='Pamela' last='Pena'] (163 kills, 322 passes, 304 digs) have helped the Rattlers dominate the district. With 15 wins and two losses, Pioneer are second in the district. Sophomore setter/right side [player_tooltip player_id='203942' first='Aleena' last='Zuniga'] (535 assists, 276 kills, 319 digs, 47 aces), sophomore middle Scarlet Verjel (323 kills, 41 blocks), freshman middle [player_tooltip player_id='556666' first='Itzel' last='Hernandez'] (233 kills, 44 blocks) and senior setter Tera Schumacher (577 assists, 264 digs, 207 kills, 90 aces) will be their main weapons against Sharyland.

The first phase of the Texas High School volleyball season is about to be completed as this Tuesday, October 24, almost every University Interscholastic League (UIL) district around the Lone Star State will conclude its calendar, determining the teams that will move forward to the playoffs and their matchups for the bi-district round, which begins on October 30.