CARROLLTON — If there’s anything assistant coach Chrissy Garcia has learned from Byron Nelson’s last two wins, it’s that her team is solid. Unbelievably solid. She thinks her players’ consistency is unlike any other volleyball team.
And it showed on Tuesday.
No. 1 Byron Nelson swept Plano East 3-0 at Hebron in the Class 6A Division II regional finals, keeping its 76-match win streak alive. Washington pledge Kylie Kleckner and Rice pledge Ashlyn Seay led Byron Nelson, combining for 32 kills. Libero Savannah Sterna had four aces.
“We have the best two outsides in the state of Texas,” Garcia said. “I think everyone knows. I fully believe that.”
Byron Nelson (40-0) has the chance to make history if the team wins its second straight state title while only losing one match in the last two years in the UIL’s highest classification.
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Byron Nelson started hot, taking an 8-3 lead in the first set behind Kleckner, who recorded four kills during that span. The powerhouse continued to string points together, extending the score to 16-7 behind two consecutive kills from Seay.
Plano East (31-11) inched within five thanks to kills from middle blocker Jaiden Boutte and outside hitter Simone Heard, who had 10 kills on Tuesday. But after Plano East made it 22-18 due to a slew of Byron Nelson errors, Kleckner and Seay each recorded kills to win the set 25-18.
“Everyone is doing their job,” Garcia said. “And as long as everyone’s doing their job, we’re going to be successful.”
Byron Nelson started the second set with the same energy, recording six consecutive points for a 7-1 lead. Another five-point run put Byron Nelson in front 13-3, a deficit Plano East couldn’t come back from.
After a kill from setter Sophee Peterson gave Byron Nelson a 20-10 advantage, Plano East called a timeout. But Plano East couldn’t recover from the deficit and Byron Nelson took the second set 25-12.
“We’ve been in this situation before,” Garcia said. “Our experience is what ultimately comes into play. We know how to prepare. And I think that’s where our kids know exactly what it takes, and where you need to be mentally. And it shows every day.”
Byron Nelson quickly took a 11-5 lead behind its veteran trio in Seay, Peterson and Kleckner, forcing a Plano East timeout. Plano East won three straight points to make it 15-12. But Byron Nelson won the next three with the help of opposite hitter Lexi Proctor who had three kills in the third set.
Leading 23-17, Seay had two consecutive kills to take the set 25-17 and the match.
Byron Nelson will play the winner of Grand Oaks vs. Cypress Ranch in the state semifinals Saturday.
“We just take it day by day,” Garcia said. “Watch some film. But it doesn’t look any different. Well prepare the exact same way. Our kids know what it takes.”
Emma Moon
HALTOM CITY – Southlake Carroll d. Flower Mound, 25-22, 25-18, 25-20: With attackers Kinsley Young and Layla Austin leading the way, Southlake Carroll earned its first trip to a UIL volleyball state semifinal since 2013 by sweeping Flower Mound 3-0 in the Class 6A Division II Region I title match Tuesday evening at Thomas Coliseum.
The game scores of 25-22, 25-18, 25-20 pushed the Lady Dragons to a state final four for the third time in program history. Young, a 6-4 TCU pledge, dominated from the middle with 23 kills and outside hitter Austin, bound for San Diego State, finished with 18.
But it was only fitting that the team recognized senior setter Emma Eyster, usually the last to touch the ball before it finds Young, Austin or any of the other Carroll hitters.
Eyster, who recently committed to Oklahoma Christian, reached 1,000 career assists last week.
“The hard part for me is choosing who to set,’’ said Eyster. “I go with the hot hitter as long as it is working, then I mix it up.’’
Southlake Carroll (33-5), ranked No. 2 in the state and No. 21 nationally by MaxPreps, extended its match winning streak to 12. The senior-laden lineup increased its number of consecutive sets won to 24 including all four playoff matches.
“We really didn’t practice well yesterday, but the girls played great,’’ said Carroll coach Leslie Jackson. “They get along better than any group I’ve had.’’
The Lady Dragons will return to Thomas Coliseum for the state semifinal match at 1 p.m. Saturday to face Tomball. Tomball beat North Forney 25-18, 25-13, 23-25, 25-20 in the Region II final.
Flower Mound (36-9), No. 9 in the MaxPreps state ranking, was playing in its fourth regional final in the last eight years. The Lady Jaguars last reached the state semifinal round in 2020. Sophomore Aleah Edmond and junior Grace Pinegar, orally committed to Colorado, were standouts for Flower Mound.
With Young providing the spark, Carroll jumped to a quick 3-0 lead and never trailed in taking the opening set. Austin’s kill off the Flower Mound block was the set winner.
Flower Mound led briefly early in the second set but the Lady Dragons regained control with Austin again applying the finishing point.
In the final set the Lady Jaguars scored five consecutive points to cut an eight-point deficit to three, but Young finished it with kills on the final three points.
The Lady Dragons hold a 16-6 edge in the all-time series with Flower Mound including a 2-1 victory this season on Aug. 21.
Randy Jennings
Highland Park d. McKinney North, 27-25, 25-17, 26-24: Highland Park moved to within two wins of its first volleyball state championship after a sweep of McKinney North in the 5A Division I Region II final at Allen High School.
Sophomore Sarah Floyd, a 6-3 right side hitter, turned in a dominant performance for Highland Park and had a match-high 22 kills. That included 10 in the third set, as Highland Park has swept all four postseason matches heading into the semifinals.
“We executed as a team,” said Floyd, whose ace won the first set. “Played hard. We wanted to be dominant and we did that tonight.”
Highland Park head coach Michael Dearman, in his 22nd season leading the Scots program and 30th overall, called Floyd “a very special talent.”
“She is a tremendous competitor,” said Dearman. “Great leader.”
Sophomore Taylor Toomay served three aces to pace the Scots in the second set
The victory avenged a 3-1 second-round loss to McKinney North that eliminated the Scots from the 2024 playoffs.
“This was redemption for us in that it was in this same building last year that McKinney North knocked us out of the playoffs,” Dearman said. “We have a different team this year. Talented, yes. But they also play so very well together. Very unselfish team.”
Highland Park and McKinney North, riding winning streaks of 18 and 23 matches, respectively, were rolling through the playoffs. McKinney North dropped just one set in three wins.
“We knew what to expect from McKinney North in this match,” Dearman said. “We were prepared.”
Highland Park (41-8), No. 3 in the Texas Girls Coaches Association’s final 5A Division I state rankings, advanced to play top-ranked Aledo (41-3) in the state semifinals Saturday at Prosper Rock Hill. Aledo handed the Scots their last defeat back on Sept. 5 in a five-set match.
“We were without Sarah Floyd and Allie Hudgins in the regular season match against Aledo,” Dearman said. “They were both injured shortly before that match. And even missing those two, we managed to take the match to five sets. I am confident in the rematch with a completely healthy team.”
Hudgins, who had nine kills in the victory over McKinney North, including match point, is looking forward to the semifinal.
“The energy level will be sky high,” Hudgins said. “We can’t wait. Our goal all season is not only to make it to state, but to win state.”
Highland Park lost a four-set match to Hereford in the 2008 4A title contest and was swept by Stephenville in the 2003 4A final, its two previous state tournament appearances.
McKinney North (36-4), No. 2 in the TGCA rankings, was also looking for its initial state crown. It came close a year ago, falling to Corpus Christi Flour Bluff in an epic five-set match, in its lone title appearance in program history.
McKinney North was led by sophomore Anna Sayman, who recorded 10 kills, eight digs and two assists. Sayman played every set as a freshman a year ago.
Senior libero Gabi Rodriguez, a Texas A&M commit and daughter of head coach Libby Rodriguez, tallied 20 digs and six assists in the loss.
Mike Waters
Argyle d. Grapevine 25-15, 25-18, 25-17: Argyle extended its winning streak to 16 matches and beat district rival Grapevine for the third time this season, winning the 5A Division II Region I final.
Argyle (37-3) will play Frisco Liberty (35-4) in the state semifinals at 4 p.m. Saturday at Prosper Rock Hill. Liberty advanced to the state final four for the first time by beating 10-time state champion Lovejoy 28-26, 25-10, 25-23 on Monday as Jaiden Harris had 16 kills and Allison Tredwell and Riley Wong combined for 27 assists.
Liberty has won 13 matches in a row and is trying to become the second Frisco ISD volleyball team to ever win state after Frisco Wakeland won the 5A Division II title last year.
Argyle reached the 5A Division II state semifinals last year, its first semifinal appearance since 2017. Argyle won its only state title in 2015 when it was in 4A, and this will be its seventh trip to the state semifinals.
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