The opening round of the Texas High School volleyball playoffs are in the books following a busy Thursday through Saturday of bi-district play. Here’s a recap of how teams from across the Texas Panhandle and South Plains faired including Amarillo High’s sweep of Wichita Falls Legacy, Plainview earned its first playoff win in school history after defeating Graham and Bushland rolled over Lubbock Talkington.
CLASS 3A
As expected, the Bushland Lady Falcons made very quick work of Lubbock Talkington to open the UIL Class 3A Division I playoffs Thursday night in Dimmitt.
The Lady Falcons soared to a sweep of Talkington with scores of 25-9, 25-8, 25-7, in a Class 3A Division I bi-district clash.
Bushland (36-5) has now advanced to the regional quarterfinal round to take on Denver City (20-9) at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Muleshoe High School.
In the victory, standout Berklee Billington knocked down 15 kills with Laynee Adams adding 10 kills. Morgan Eberly and Jaida Scott combined for 39 assists with Eberly handing out a game-high 22 and Scott adding 17. Charley Freeman led the team in digs with 10.
CLASS 5A
The Amarillo High Lady Sandies continued their four decades of dominance in the opening round of the UIL playoffs after defeating Wichita Falls Legacy, 25-19, 25-7, 25-21, in the Class 5A Division I bi-district round Friday.
Sophomore Harper Vaughan provided the offense with 15 kills and did her job on defense with seven digs. Teammate Ansley Davis hit the floor for 14 digs and served up three aces.
The Lady Sandies (32-9) are now set to face El Paso Chapin (36-7) in the regional quarterfinals at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Seminole High School.
The Tascosa Lady Rebels were also able to advance in a Class 5A Division I bi-district match defeating Abilene High 25-13, 25-13, 25-21, on Thursday at Lubbock-Cooper Liberty High School.
The Lady Rebels were strong at the net behind Harlan Singleton’s 11 kills and Presley Ward’s 10 kills. Ellen Daniels operated the offense with 27 assists.
Tascosa (27-15) is all set to face-off with El Paso High School (11-19) at 3 p.m. Monday in Monahans in a regional quarterfinal.
CLASS 4A
It was a historic night head coach Amanda Martin and her Plainview Lady Bulldogs. Plainview won its first gold ball in program history following a four-set win against Graham in a UIL Class 4A Division I bi-district matchup, 26-24, 25-20, 25-27, 25-19, on Thursday in Vernon.
The Lady Bulldogs finished with 38 kills as a team paced by Abigail Martin and her eight kills on 18 attacks. Teammate Aubre Blackberby was equally effective at the net with seven kills. Defensively, Raily Diaz was solid on the back row getting a team-high 22 digs and Mikka Chapa chipped in 17 digs.
The Lady Bulldogs (16-13) will take on two-time defending state champion Decatur (32-10) in a regional quarterfinal at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Vernon.
In another Canyon ISD playoff contest, the Canyon Lady Eagles took care of business by sinking Seminole, 25-19, 25-10, 25-18, in a UIL Class 4A Division II bi-district match Thursday night at Lubbock-Cooper High School.
The Lady Eagles improve to 32-6 on the season and are set to square off with El Paso Young Women’s Academy (16-14) at 4 p.m. Monday on the campus of Andrews High School in a regional quarterfinal.
This was a team effort victory with Laney Jones slamming down a team-high 15 kills. Neelie Henson added seven kills and two blocks while Brylee McElroy went for 19 assists.
Randall was also able to roll in a Class 4A Division II bi-district game after knocking off Fort Stockton 25-11, 25-16, 25-18, on Thursday.
The Lady Raiders (36-6) advance to the regional quarterfinals to take on El Paso Mountain View (13-14) in a regional quarterfinal at 2 p.m. Monday in Andrews.
Sophomore Chloe Brown knocked down 17 kills and added 10 digs for a double-double. Teammate Kambree Gonzalez had a team-best 17 digs.
CLASS 2A
Vega ended the regular season on fire and it was able to stay that way as the Lady Longhorns opened the UIL Class 2A Division I bi-district round with a dominating sweep of Smyer, 25-6, 25-12, 25-10, on Thursday night in Dimmitt.
Khloe Griffitt set the tone for the Lady Longhorns with 10 kills and an eye-popping seven aces. Madelynn Wellman chipped in with 16 assists and two kills as Maddox Porton was outstanding at the net with seven blocks.
Vega will battle Plains (23-14) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Muleshoe High School in a regional quarterfinal.
BI-DISTRICT SCORES
Class 5A Division II
Wichita Falls Memorial def. Lubbock-Cooper 25-23, 18-25, 25-16, 25-21
Records: Memorial 32-10; Cooper 31-11.
Abilene Wylie def. Frenship 25-19, 25-16, 25-15
Records: Wylie 35-4; Frenship 29-15
Class 4A Division I
Andrews def. West Plains 25-21, 25-16, 25-18
Records: Andrews 29-14; West Plains 24-17.
Midland Greenwood def. Hereford 19-25, 25-21, 18-25, 25-22, 16-14
Records: Greenwood 30-7; Hereford 23-20.
Class 4A Division II
Lubbock-Cooper Liberty def. Glen Rose 25-21, 25-16, 25-18
Records: Liberty 30-8; Glen Rose 16-24
Class 3A Division I
Shallowater def. Dalhart 18-25, 18-25, 25-15, 25-16, 15-12
Records: Shallowater 16-15; Dalhart 26-13.
Class 3A Division II
Childress def. River Road 25-18, 25-14, 25-19
Records: Childress 17-20; River Road 18-16.
Idalou def. Friona 25-23, 25-15, 25-17
Records: Idalou 23-14; Friona 22-17.
Class 2A Division I
Sanford-Fritch def. Tulia 25-17, 25-14, 25-27, 25-17
Records: Sanford-Fritch 26-11; Tulia 15-7.
Highland Park (25-12) def. Abernathy 25-15, 25-20, 25-21
Records: Highland Park 26-12; Abernathy 24-11.
Class 2A Division II
Olton def. West Texas High 8-25, 23-25, 26-24, 25-20, 15-13
Records: Olton 9-13; West Texas High 10-16.
Class 1A
Fort Elliott def. Channing 25-4, 25-7, 25-5
Records: Fort Elliott 18-6; Channing 0-14.
Kelton def. Wildorado 25-17, 25-14, 25-16
Records: Kelton 17-4; Wildorado 8-17.
TAPPS Class 1A regional
Wichita Falls Christian Academy def. San Jacinto Christian Academy, (3-1)
Records: WFCA 16-14; SJCA 16-7.
