Grapevine, Keller among DFW volleyball teams advancing to UIL, TAPPS state tourney
The state tournament is next week in Garland.
Grapevine 3, Canyon Randall 1
Robyn Wallace was Fort Worth all-area co-coach of the year last season taking the Mustangs to the state semifinals for the first time.
On Friday and Saturday, Wallace proved why that was the right pick.
Grapevine entered the Class 5A Region 1 tournament in Lubbock only two games above .500, but came away with two wins and another state tourney berth.
After dropping the opening set, the Mustangs beat Canyon Randall in the regional final, 20-25, 27-25, 25-23, 25-20 on Saturday at Coronado HS.
Grapevine (21-17) will play a UIL state semifinal game against New Braunfels Canyon on Friday at 1 p.m. from Garland’s Curtis Culwell Center, which the Mustangs get to fully experience. The team reached the state semis last season, but there was no tournament due to COVID.
Instead Grapevine played the semifinal game against Lucas Lovejoy at Coppell HS.
“Insane,” Wallace said in a single text message.
Grapevine beat Amarillo on Friday, 14-25, 28-26, 22-25, 25-21, 15-7, leaving Lubbock with wins against two of the all-time best West Texas teams in Texas high school volleyball history.
Missouri signee Janet deMarrais was named all-region MVP while Alea Lastinger and Ella Davis were named to the all-region team.
Keller 3, Eaton 0
Keller continued its dominance over Eaton this season, beating the Eagles for a third time in as many tries to make program history, 25-18, 25-22, 25-10 during the Class 6A Region 1 final on Saturday at Thomas Coliseum in Haltom City.
Keller (31-12), which finished as District 4-6A champ and swept Eaton in the regular season, advances to the UIL state tournament for the first time. The Indians will play Fort Bend Ridge Point in the semis at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Culwell Center.
Keller, which finished No. 1 in the Fort Worth-area Class 6A rankings, couldn’t have had a better start to the game, winning the first seven points that led to an Eaton timeout. Junior middle Leah Ford made her presence felt early with a couple of big blocks and kills from setter Taylor Polivka.
Eaton (37-4) rallied back with five of the next six points, but Keller’s lead never got back within four as the Indians took the early advantage. The Eagles, who won a program record 37 games, got off to the good start in the second set, 4-1. Keller was able to tie it at 5-5 then took the lead 11-7.
Emily Simmons and Susi Curtis helped Eaton stay in the set, but Melanie McGann and Reagan Sharp paced the Indians. Eaton led 19-18 before Keller closed out strong for a 2-0 lead.
Little could go right for Eaton in the third set as the Eagles quickly were down 10 and just couldn’t stop the Keller momentum, but despite the loss, Eaton does go to the regional final in back-to-back seasons, the toughest region in the state.
McGann, who signed her NLI with West Virginia on Wednesday, surpassed 600 kills on the season. She was named all-region MVP while Polivka and Ford were named to the all-region team.
Decatur 3, Argyle 0
Argyle was able to reach the 4A Region 1 final under first-year head coach Taryn Hill before running into district opponent and defending 4A state champ Decatur on Saturday in Weatherford where the Decatur Eagles beat the Argyle Eagles, 25-17, 25-14, 25-21.
Decatur (36-8) will play Bellville in the 4A semifinals at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Culwell Center.
Argyle finishes the season with a 31-13 record. The Eagles beat Dumas in the semis, 25-16, 25-23, 25-21.
Others: Randall defeated Colleyville Heritage, 23-25, 25-18, 26-24, 25-23 in Friday’s 5A Region 1 semifinals, ending the Panthers season at 40-11. The Panthers finished as District 6-5A champs.
The Woodlands defeated Mansfield, 25-15, 25-21, 25-19 in Friday’s Class 6A Region 2 semifinals in Lufkin. The Tigers end the season with a 35-16 record, which included the District 11-6A championship. Mansfield reached the regional tournament for the first time since 1992.
Boyd was defeated by Gunter in Saturday’s Class 3A Region 2 final at Midlothian. Boyd ends the season at 35-5. The Yellowjackets defeated Atlanta in Friday’s semis. Brock lost to Bushland in Friday’s 3A Region 1 semifinals.
TAPPS: Argyle Liberty Christian won a regional game against Dallas Parish and will head to the 6A state tournament in Waco where the Warriors will play Plano Prestonwood, which rallied to beat Dallas Bishop Lynch.
Fort Worth Christian swept McKinney Christian in a 5A regional game and heads to the state semifinals for the second straight season where the Cardinals will have a rematch with Carrollton Prince of Peace.
Pantego Christian is headed back to state after the Panthers beat Lubbock Trinity. They will play a 4A semifinal game against Lubbock Christian, which ended Fort Worth Lake Country’s season on Saturday.
Watauga Harvest was defeated by Dallas Lutheran in 3A regional game on Saturday.
This story was originally published November 13, 2021 at 3:27 PM.
