State Tournament Day 4 Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) High School Volleyball State Tournament came to an end on Saturday in Garland, with four matches determining the state champions in four divisions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The match schedule at the Curtis Culwell Center featured victories from Bushland in District 3A, Davenport in District 4A, Lovejoy in District 5A and Grand Oaks in District 6A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These were the players who made a difference on the last day of the 2023 State Tournament: </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":"Mackenzie Sims","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32561","_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":"","_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's junior setter was pivotal in the team's third state title in four years by leading the Lady Falcons to a four-set win against Gunter in the Division 3A final. There was nothing Sims didn't do in the State Championship game and her all-around performance earned her the MVP award. The setter led her team in assists (30) and aces (four) and also had strong offensive and defensive contributions, ranking third in kills (ten) and second in digs (15) to pull off a triple-double showing. She also got a block.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6559893392b33"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/uiltexas/status/1725958042431217941?s=20","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/1725958042431217941?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["307451"],"_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":"Dodson really stepped up for Davenport in Garland and followed up on a strong semifinal display with another massive performance in the Division 4A final, against Randall. Thanks to the presence of their senior outside hitter, the Lady Wolves managed to triumph in five sets and secure the title in their first State Tournament appearance. Dodson was huge by topping all scorers with 29 kills (and just five errors) and also contributed on the backcourt with 17 digs. Her MVP performance also included two aces and a block.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6559893392ba3"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/uiltexas/status/1725998778262364411?s=20","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/1725998778262364411?s=20 </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='534291' first='Gentry' last='Barker']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_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":"Lovejoy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='431308' first='Texas' last='Advantage']","_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":"A freshman, Gentry shone the brightest in a strong and experienced Lovejoy team that triumphed in their fourth-straight State Tournament appearance. The outside hitter displayed great connection with senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='124135' first='Bethanie' last='Wu'], who tallied an impressive 40 assists, and helped the Leopards sweep Liberty Hill in the Division 5A final. Gentry stepped up big time and led Lovejoy's offense with 17 kills. She also produced 11 digs and one ace.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6559893392c39"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/uiltexas/status/1726026353042944385?s=20","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/1726026353042944385?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["318128"],"_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":"The top prospect in our Class of 2026 Prep Dig State Rankings, Thompson led Grand Oaks to victory in their first Division 6A State Tournament appearance by playing a major role in the Grizzlies' sweep of Houston area foes Cinco Ranch. The sophomore played at an extremely high level at the net, getting 15 kills in just 36 swings while making just five errors in the process. Thompson also contributed three blocks ad solid on the backcourt too, getting eight digs.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6559893392c8d"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/uiltexas/status/1726071800272945371?s=20","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/1726071800272945371?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->