Columbus top Sweeny in a five-set thriller and go to area round

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The postseason has arrived in the Texas High School Volleyball season and, after three months of district play, it's going to be a sprint between now and the end of November, when the new state champions will be crowned.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For another year, Prep Dig Texas is your go-to website when it comes to following the high school volleyball season in the Lone Star State, as we'll be covering multiple matches every week and providing the best coverage, featuring weekly previews, photo galleries, match reports and tournament standouts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/DdUaO4oDzVB/","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DdUaO4oDzVB/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our playoff coverage began on Thursday, October 29, when the Columbus Lady Cardinals and the Sweeny Lady Bulldogs met in a Division 3A bi-district round match at Cinco Ranch High School in Katy. It was an intense five-set battle, which ended with Columbus triumphing 3-2 (25-19, 22-25, 20-25, 25-18, 15-7).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Columbus vs. Sweeny - <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/10/bi-district-round-columbus-vs-sweeney-photos/">Photos</a></strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/DfGjzYKDqBN/?img_index=1","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DfGjzYKDqBN/?img_index=1 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Columbus now have a 39-4 win record for the season and will face Huntington in the area round, while Sweeny ended their season with a 28-9 win record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players of the Game</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1058106"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae401d2f0d66"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Schobel doubled up as a setter and right side hitter for Columbus and was pivotal in their victory with her impressive all-around game. The sophomore took over as the team's setter when on the back row and did a great job of remaining accurate and making the right decisions with her distribution. Schobel used her length very well at the net, standing out with a well-diversified and efficient offense and appearing in important moments with her big and well-balanced blocking. The setter also made an impact on the back row, serving aggressively and playing great defense, and consistently caught opponents off guard with her setter dumps.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1058079,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/10/2J4A0394.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1058079" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["838179"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae401d2f0e19"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gerik was Columbus' go-to scorer and had a big role in the team's offense. Tall and powerful, the junior outside hitter scored at a good clip at the pin, showing excellent vision to go around blockers and beat defenders with strong swings. Gerik stepped up to get on the ball in key moments and also did very well in out-of-system plays, finding nice angles to put the ball down. The pin hitter also blocked well and efficiently handled the few serves that went her way. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1058096,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/10/2J4A0489.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1058096" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1058119"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae401d2f0e9e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gerik provided Columbus with a strong presence at the net and had some interesting battles with Sweeny's middles. The opponents used their middles very often, and the freshman did a good job of challenging them on both sides of the ball at the net. Gerik was very effective offensively, making great use of her contact point to swing and showing impressive court vision and awareness to score off tips when working with inaccurate sets. She was aggressive with her blocking and kept her level of play consistent throughout the match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1058111,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/10/2J4A0592.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1058111" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["796868"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae404f79c18a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Fitzgerald was very reliable in the back row for Columbus and another key piece in their playing system. The senior libero was excellent in seve-receive, being accurate with her deliveries and facilitating the team's offense. Fitzgerald also made an impact on defense, showing excellent ball control to handle hard-driven swings and quickness to get to tips, and also stood out for her effort, recovering some shanked passes and digs. The left-handed libero also had some good serving runs in the match, most notably one that helped the Lady Cardinals create good separation at the start of set five.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1058082,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/10/2J4A0420.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1058082" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["880793"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae404f79c1df"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Forshee was excellent for Sweeny and helped her team challenge a strong Columbus team. The junior libero was lights out in serve-receive, covering a lot of ground and being very precise with her passing, which allowed the Lady Bulldogs to heavily use their middles on offense. Forshee also played great defense, performing truly impressive digs and being very difficult to score at - she also did well in stepping up to handle free balls. The libero set well in transition plays, was very disciplined when covering her hitters and consistently made an impact from the service line, rounding up an excellent overall performance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1058092,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/10/2J4A0468.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1058092" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1058130"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae404f79c229"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">White had a big offensive role with Sweeny and led the team's best moments in the match. The junior got to swing from the middle and the left and was unstoppable in some moments, putting Columbus under pressure when she was at the net. White got off the floor very well, found excellent angles with her swings and was very intelligent with the location of her tips. She also did well with her blocking, moving well at the net and playing aggressively to stop opponents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1058104,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/10/2J4A0536.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1058104" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1058129"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae404f79c26f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sweeny's starting setter Brown had an excellent performance and stood out for her ability to make the most of her hitters against a physical and tall Columbus team. The junior's playmaking was great, and she was very reliable and consistent with her distribution. Brown noticed her middles were having great success in moments of the match and continued finding ways to feed them even in transition plays and when the pass was a little off the net. The setter also played incredible defense, controlling some powerful hard-driven swings on the right, and scored on some setter dumps.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1058086,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/10/2J4A0441.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1058086" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->