Auto race sends Aledo, Brock to Garland for state tournament

By Kevin Casas

Special to the Star-Telegram

The Formula One race in Austin this weekend resulted in the relocation of the UIL state volleyball tournament to the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, today through Saturday.

The event has been in San Marcos for about 15 years, but hotels are at a premium along Interstate 35 from Austin to San Antonio because of the race weekend, Friday through Sunday. Many hotels are booked for five-day race packages.

"Bids for hotel rooms, availability, and price, became an issue," UIL executive director Charles Breithaupt said.

Area teams Aledo and Brock have advanced to the state tournament in the Dallas suburb.

GameDay

All games at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland

Class 2A

Brock (43-3) vs. Holliday (35-6)

3 p.m. today

Notable: Holliday clipped Brock earlier this season in nondistrict tournament play, but Brock is vastly improved, having not lost a set since September. Brock's main rotation is made up of four seniors and four sophomores. Amy Henard's hitting percentage is .510 meaning she gets a kill once out of every two balls she hits.

White Oak (40-5) vs. Schulenburg (34-9)

1 p.m. today

Notable: Three players make up the bulk of White Oak's offense, with hitting efficiency over 41%. White Oak needed five sets to dispatch Crawford in the regional semifinals and took four sets in the regional final to defeat Centerville.

2A Final: 11:30 a.m. Saturday

Class 4A

Aledo (40-5) vs. Friendswood (42-4)

5 p.m. today

Notable: Aledo returns to the state tournament for the first time since 2001, also the first time since moving up to Class 4A. Four hitters were in double digits for kills in the regional final win, meaning the Bearcats' offense is peaking with options. Setter Mallory Powell had 1,210 assists in the regular season.

Lucas Lovejoy (46-4) vs. Cedar Park(40-7)

7 tonight

Notable: Lovejoy has beaten numerous Class 5A teams and comes charging in with over 1,200 combined kills on the season. The two-time Class 3A champion is looking to add a third straight, but now in Class 4A. Southern California recruit Ebony Nwanebu, a 6-foot-4 outside hitter, has 617 kills this season.

4A Final: 4:30 p.m. Saturday

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