Texas HS Matches to Watch – Week 4

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Texas high school volleyball season is set to enter its second month of action soon, as the first matches of the University Interscholastic League (UIL) took place in early August in every corner of the Lone Star State, kicking off a four-month period of excitement for young players in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Dig Texas continues to provide the best high school volleyball coverage in the state, attending multiple matches every week and consistently featuring the players and teams who deliver strong results on the court and pave their way to appearing in the State Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This season, in addition to providing match coverage, we also have weekly previews, presenting matches set to take place over the next few days in different regions of the state with the potential to be truly exciting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are the duels you should keep an eye out for in the fourth week of the season:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stratford vs. Memorial</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>When:</strong> Tuesday, September 1, at @ 5:30 PM<br><strong>Where:</strong> Stratford HS<br><strong>Why:</strong> It will be the first chapter of one of the biggest district rivalries in the Houston area, featuring two teams with serious star power. Stratford, who have a 13-8 win record for the season and won their first district match, have an elite middle in senior [player_tooltip player_id='819915' first='Milena' last='Miladinovic'], a pair of high-scoring outside hitters in juniors Anna Gordon and [player_tooltip player_id='845404' first='Sydney' last='Hatcher'] and a promising setter in sophomore Maddie Inman. One of the hottest teams in the state at the start of the season, Memorial have 19 wins in their first 21 matches and are undefeated in their last 15. Junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='775802' first='Taylor' last='Harting'] has a big part in their success, connecting very well with senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='1017748' first='Tesa' last='Solis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1017747' first='Mary' last='Margaret Schwieder'] and sophomore middle [player_tooltip player_id='788826' first='Charlotte' last='Bullocks'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Georgetown vs. Liberty Hill</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>When:</strong> Tuesday, September 1, at @ 6:30 PM<br><strong>Where:</strong> Georgetown HS<br><strong>Why:</strong> Two teams from the Austin area having excellent starts to their seasons face off in what will be a huge test for both ahead of the beginning of their district calendars. Georgetown built a 25-4 win record so far in the season, counting on the extraordinary talent and versatility of senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='534305' first='Amelia' last='Albright'], the firepower of outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='1004409' first='Claire' last='Berryman'] (sophomore) and [player_tooltip player_id='481513' first='Mallory' last='Miller'] (senior) and the sizeable defensive contributions provided by junior libero [player_tooltip player_id='903718' first='Jordan' last='Pitkethley']. Liberty Hill's 26-5 campaign has massive contributions from junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='804315' first='Hannah' last='Griffin'], their leading scorer, sophomore middle Macee Walters, a two-way threat at the net, and senior Addison Betzen and junior [player_tooltip player_id='641790' first='Ryann' last='Mendoza'], who split the setting duties and keep their offense running at a strong rhythm.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Duncanville vs. North Forney</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>When:</strong> Friday, September 4, at @ 5:30 PM<br><strong>Where:</strong> Duncanville HS<br><strong>Why:</strong> Enjoying one of the strongest starts of the season among the Dallas-area programs, Duncanville will try to keep their momentum against a dangerous North Forney side that finished strong at the traditional Volleypalooza tournament. Boasting a 23-4 win record so far in the season, Duncanville can count on the reliable offensive production of sophomore Peyton Smith and junior [player_tooltip player_id='752540' first='Nayeli' last='Dragoo-Crawford'] at the pin, the intelligent playmaking of senior setter Chloe Carpenter and the defensive solidness of junior libero [player_tooltip player_id='907709' first='Alina' last='Pinter']. For North Forney, who has accumulated 15 wins and ten losses, the main weapons coming into Friday's encounter will be the scoring ability of senior right side [player_tooltip player_id='534389' first='Braelyn' last='Patton'], the all-around production of sophomore outside hitter Bri Norris, the creative distribution of junior setter Trinity Alsaid and the back row presence of senior libero Jayse Johnson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->