03/11/2024
A NEW ERA FOR UIL VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS STARTS MONDAY
PHOTO TAKEN BY CHUCK LICATA
Tomorrow (Nov. 4) marks the beginning of a new chapter of UIL playoffs where Texas high school volleyball is concerned.
This year marks the beginning of a new era - the new Division I and Division II separation of volleyball teams for the postseason run to the state finals in Garland. Among the top four finishers in each district – from Classes 6A to 2A – the two schools with the largest enrollment would jettison to the Division I playoffs, while the smaller-enrollment duo would launch into the Division II playoffs.
Before we dive into the D-I and D-II playoff fields, let’s summarize a couple of factors here. First, I mentioned the state finals to be played in Garland. While that’s true, what’s different about that – previous to this season, the state semifinals AND finals had been played in the same place. Be it the Burger Center in Austin, Strahan Coliseum at Texas State University or – since 2012 – the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland.
The state semifinals and state finals will NOT be played in the same arena for the first time since the COVID season of 2020. In less than three weeks, the state semifinals will be played in arenas/gyms agreed to be the participants.
Usually, when you say, “We made it to state,” you think of all Final Four teams playing in the same arena. Not so moving forward. That signifies a new era of UIL state volleyball playoffs. And for a lot of us old-school media members, it’s a mental adjustment.
That said – here’s some thoughts on the upcoming playoffs, which begin tomorrow (Monday) night.
Class 6A
Division I- Morgan Rogers and the Grand Oaks Grizzlies begin defense of their 6A state title. Ironically, the Grizzlies will be the last single-state champions moving forward. Other teams who will compete for a title include the likes of The Woodlands, Keller, Westlake, Plano East and the winner of the Ridge Point/Dawson first-round matchup. Another barn-burner of a first-round matchup is in the DFW area, as Rockwall takes on Sachse.
Division II- Possibly the toughest Division in all of the UIL playoffs. National powers Byron Nelson (coached by Bri Groth) and Dripping Springs (coached by Michael Kane) headline this division. Many are happy to see the two have the possibility of playing for a state championship.
Other power teams include Austin High, Tompkins, Harlan, Plano West), and Brandeis out of San Antonio. Wild-card teams to watch include Hebron and Flower Mound (who plays Plano West in bi-district on Tuesday).
Class 5A
Division I- Highland Park has never been able to make it to state, although Michael Dearman has built an outstanding program. Dropping from 6A to 5A this year may give the Scots a chance to get to the promised land.
But there’s plenty of good teams standing in the Scots’ way including Melissa, Aledo and Amarillo, coached by Haleigh Burns, who knows what winning a state title is all about. And, oh yah – let’s not forget Josh McKinney and the Colleyville Heritage Panthers, who won the state title two years ago and made it to the state semis last season.
Division II- Another “stacked” division. As perennial state qualifier Lovejoy (the defending 5A champs) and Liberty Hill (which lost to Lovejoy at state last year) headline this division. Marie Bruce’s Lady Panthers have one of the barn-burner bi-district matchups with Pieper out of San Antonio.
Cedar Park, winner of the district that holds Liberty Hill and Rouse, headlines a list of tough Austin-area entries, including Georgetown and Weiss. Lake Creek and Friendswood provide tough competition out of the Houston area. Wakeland (coached by UiLani Womble), which has established itself as a state 5A power, joins fellow DFW squad Argyle (another state power, coached by Katelyn Johnson) as state contenders. Upstart Walnut Grove, in its second year under coach Autumn Loyd) could be a spoiler and/or Cinderella squad.
Class 4A
Division I- Decatur and Celina have recent state experience and headline this division, which includes the likes of former state champ Needville, former state attendee China Springs as well as Valley View, Hargrave and Springtown.
Division II- Former state champion Randall – now coached by Karli Morrison after Burns left for Amarillo – and six-time state champion Wimberley (which built its legacy as a 3A squad by Lee Grisham and made it back to state in 2020) lead this power-packed division. Other contenders include Salado (a team that made its first state appearance last year), Godley (looking to reach the state level for the first time ever), Glen Rose (trying to get back to state since its only appearance in 2017) and Aubrey. A couple of wildcards include Brock (coached by Nicholas Gay) and Madisonville.
Class 3A
Division I- This may be the most power-packed division outside of 6A, Division II. The two teams that own the last four state championships – Bushland (under Jason Culpepper, which owns state titles in 2020, 21 and 23) and Gunter (2022) – headline a division that includes 2024 state contenders Goliad (an annual state contender under coach Jess Odem and winners of the 2016-17 titles), Llano and Randolph.
Wildcard contenders include Peaster, Tatum and Ponder.
Division II- State contenders include Industrial (state champs in 2019), Boyd (state entries in 2017-18), Thrall (three state appearances since 2016), Holliday (five state appearances, the last in 2012), Two wildcard candidates include Elkhart and Tolar (a move-up from Class 2A).
Class 2A
Division I- Wink, a 1A power back in the 1970s and 80s and 2A state entrant in 2019 and 2021 (14 total appearances and 2 state rings), leads a tough division that also includes Jewett Leon (29 state appearances and 10 state titles, with recent state trips in 2019 and 2022). Lindsay (five state appearances, their most recent in 2022), Nocona (seven state apperaances, the last in 2011), Johnson City (only state appearance in 1994), Whitewright (state appearance in 1974), Bosqueville and Valley Mills are all contenders.
Division II- Like 6A-D2, the top two teams are locked into the same division. Iola (defending champs coached by Jamie McDougald; the Iola program has 13 overall state appearances and four state titles) and Crawford (coached by Jeff Coker, the 2023 state runner-up; under Coker, the Pirates have seven state appearances and two state trophies since 2013) headline this division.
Windthorst, which has the UIL record for most state VB titles at 14 (including the 2022 championship) and has been to state 24 times (including last year), will be a team to contend with, as will Beckville (two program titles, 2018 and 2021, in their only two state appearances). Wildcard squads include Detroit and Electra.
Class 1A
This class will crown only one state champion as the D1-D2 rules don’t apply here.
Blum, which has established a legacy under former student-turned-head-coach Lauren McPherson, has won the last two 1A state titles and been to state each year since 2017, save for the 2018 season and has played in the state finals match the past four years. The Lady Cats will have their hands full in their own region (Region III). Neches, coached by Jenna Jenkins, is coming off a recent three-peat (2018-20) and lost to Blum in the state semis last year. Also waiting there is Dodd City, which has never been to state.
Current state #1 Harrold, coached by Mindy Patton, surprised the state last year by taking a set off Blum in the state finals before falling. Patton’s squad has been solid all year long. D’Hanis (four state appearances since 2017), Benjamin (Cody Propps, a former student-now-head coach took his squad to state two years ago and lost to Harrold in the regional finals last year) are state contenders as well.
There’s plenty of wildcard candidates, including McMullen County, Bruni and Chester are all looking for their first state appearances.
