Fort Worth-area high school volleyball playoff preview; teams, players and games to watch
The high school volleyball playoffs are in full swing (no pun intended) and the quest for the state tournament in Garland begins. But not everyone can go along for the journey, only a select few will make it.
But who?
Who are the teams with the best chance to reach state?
Take a look at Fort Worth-area teams to watch, players to watch and intriguing playoff matches.
Teams
Keller (28-11): The Indians started as the area’s No. 1 team in Class 6A, took a bit of a bump in August before finishing strong as District 4-6A champ. Keller is back at No. 1 and the Indians look for another deep run. Last season, Keller reached the state tourney for the first time and ended as 6A runner-up.
Byron Nelson (36-5): The Bobcats finished the regular season with the best winning percentage in area. They’ll go into the postseason with three players in the Top 25 for kills.
Midlothian (37-4): The Panthers held down the area’s top spot in 5A since the second week of the season. With a loaded lineup and senior-led class, Midlothian is primed for a run.
Colleyville Heritage (36-7): Heritage is in the same boat as Midlothian. The Panthers are among the best in the state and stacked with a senior-heavy squad. They’ll look to avenge a loss earlier this season to Midlo.
Justin Northwest (36-9): The Texans are among the most experienced squads and had a 25-game winning streak at one point this season. They already have the most wins in program history, breaking the mark from 1993. Northwest has to be thinking of 1993 as that’s the last time the team reached state.
4A: Decatur, Godley
3A: Peaster, Grandview, Boyd
Private schools: Liberty Christian, Lake Country, Arlington Oakridge
Dark horses: Weatherford, Boswell, Eaton, Mansfield, Martin, Aledo, Grapevine, Birdville, Glen Rose
Players to watch
Reese Robins, Sr., Timberview: The Louisville commit tied for the lead with 675 kills after the regular season and has the most blocks in the area for the second straight season.
Kenna Buchanan, Sr., Midlothian: The area’s preseason MVP ended the regular season one of four players in the Fort Worth-area with 400 kills and better than a 0.350 hitting percentage.
Makenna Dillow, Sr., Azle: Dillow continues to lead the country with 1,156 digs. She enters the playoffs with 8.4 digs per set and has registered 30 or more digs in 11 games.
Suli Davis, Soph., Colleyville Heritage: Davis is among the top sophomores in the country and thriving in her first season with the Panthers. She has 408 kills from the regular season.
Morgan Howard, Sr., Colleyville Heritage: Howard finished the regular season second in the area with 1,152 assists, but after the playoffs, she’ll have the most for the second straight season.
Payton Hull, Sr., Peaster: If the Greyhounds expect a deep run, it’ll start with Hull. She ended the regular season with 482 kills, hit 0.368 and added 362 digs. Not bad for a basketball commit.
Samantha Hoppes, Sr., Byron Nelson: The Boston College commit leads a loaded offensive attack with 438 kills and a 0.359 hitting percentage. She joins Buchanan in the 400 kill, 0.350 hitting group.
Sophie Chambers, Sr., Northwest: Chambers has been the “quarterback” on the court for the Texans this season. She has over 600 assists, 300 digs and nearly 200 kills. She has multiple triple-doubles.
Lauryn Mack, Soph., Aledo: Mack has had a stellar first year with the Ladycats, entering the playoffs as the team-leader in kills and digs, and ranks second in hitting percentage.
Taylor Polivka, Sr., Keller: Polivka has had many games under her belt, including a run to the state final last season. This season, she has 1,071 assists, third most in the area and one of eight players with 1,000.
Others: Kate Hansen, Weatherford; Riess Griffith, Weatherford; Madi Parrish, Boswell; Stephanie Gutierrez, Boswell; Kea Whillock, Keller; Sydnee Peterson, Byron Nelson; Emily Simmons, Eaton; Rachel Resta, Mansfield; Lydia Seymour, Northwest; Alyssa Gonzales, Aledo; Bailee Hewitt, Saginaw; Ella Busey, Colleyville Heritage; Ava Shankle, Grapevine; Caroline Kahle, Birdville; Katherine Holtman, Argyle; Lauren Safrit, Midlothian; Jenna McMichael, Midlothian; Katie Wong, Burleson; Emilee Casey, Midlothian Heritage; Baylee Mobley, Godley; Gracie Trulson, Decatur; Kylie Druxman, Springtown; Emma Rosier, Boyd; Shelby Martin, Grandview; Dani Ratliff, Lake Country; Reagan Fifer, Liberty Christian; Megan Weldon, Oakridge; Ellason Felts, Brock, Jolee Van Dyke, Millsap
Notable UIL playoff matches
First Round
Carroll vs Weatherford
Boswell vs Eaton
Mansfield vs Copperas Cove
Arlington Heights vs Azle
Midlothian vs Argyle
Grapevine vs Burleson
Timberview vs Birdville
Potential second round games
Arlington Martin vs Denton Guyer
Midlothian vs Aledo
Godley vs Celina
Northwest vs Birdville/Timberview
Potential third round games
Keller vs Weatherford/Carroll
Byron vs Boswell/Eaton
Mansfield vs Sachse
Midlothian vs Colleyville
Grapevine vs Northwest
Peaster vs Holliday
Glen Rose vs Decatur
30 wins
Fort Worth area volleyball teams entering the playoffs with 30 or more wins:
Weatherford
Boswell
Byron
Midlothian
Argyle
Aledo
Colleyville
Northwest
Godley
Peaster
Boyd
Grandview
Lake Country
