Austin Maroons outside hitter Riley Malloy (6) bumps up the ball for the set against the Cornerstone Christian Warriors during the second set at the non-district volleyball game on Tuesday, Sept 30, 2025, Austin High School in Austin, TX.
John Gutierrez Photo/@GutierrezPhotos
Austin High middle blocker Camille Presley remembers the pain in her heart when the Maroons were bounced from the 2024 UIL state playoffs in the first round.
The team went 39-6 last season and had every intention of making a deeper run for state honors. But after being swept by Vandegrift to open their state journey, Presley pledged that it would never happen again.
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Mya Cheatum, Cedar Park High School, Aug 6, 2025.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Austin Maroons middle blocker Camille Presley (24) sets up the ball against the Cornerstone Christian Warriors during the third set at the non-district volleyball game on Tuesday, Sept 30, 2025, Austin High School in Austin, TX.
John Gutierrez Photo/@GutierrezPhotos
Austin Maroons outside hitter Riley Malloy (6) serves the ball against the Cornerstone Christian Warriors during the second set at the non-district volleyball game on Tuesday, Sept 30, 2025, Austin High School in Austin, TX.
John Gutierrez Photo/@GutierrezPhotos
Austin High has three players who have committed to DI colleges, including (from left) Maggie McCarroll (Arkansas), Riley Malloy (USC) and Camille Presley (Texas). They pose during a practice on November 19, 2025 ahead of the 2025 UIL Class 6A Division II state championship match.
Rick Cantu/Austin American-Statesman
“It felt so bad,” Presley said Thursday at the school’s gym. “We didn’t want to have that feeling again. We made up our minds that we were going to work out butts off and we’re going to win (in 2025).”
Presley’s words pretty much sum up the attitude of a team that has been on a redemption tour this fall. Last week the Maroons reached their goal by qualifying for the Class 6A state championship match Saturday at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland. Austin High (41-6) will take on Southlake Carroll (34-5) in a battle of state heavyweights. The Maroons are ranked 26th in the country and No. 7 in the state, according to MaxPreps. The Dragons are No. 2 in Texas and No. 17 in the nation.
Austin High coach Kiley Woods, in her seventh year leading the program, said she’s not surprised her team has reached the state finals. The Maroons were handicapped last year when outside hitter Riley Malloy suffered a severe sprained ankle before the playoffs. Woods described Malloy as “the backbone of our team for four years.”
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MORE: American-Statesman staff picks for this week’s area-round football playoff games
Austin High has three players who will play volleyball at NCAA DI colleges, including (from left) Maggie McCarroll (Arkansas), Riley Malloy (Arkansas) and Camille Presley (Texas).
Rick Cantu/Photo by Rick Cantu
It was state or bust for Austin High this year
When/where: Friday-Saturday in Garland.
Schedule: Class 4A DII — Wimberley (46-5) vs. Fort Worth Eagle Mountain (37-11), 6 p.m Friday; Class 5A DII — Cedar Park (38-12) vs. Argyle (38-3), 1 p.m. Saturday; Class 6A DII — Austin High (41-6) vs. Southlake Carroll (34-5), 6 p.m.Â
With Malloy back, the Maroons have had a season for the ages, winning District 26-6A over the likes of Lake Travis, Dripping Springs and Westlake. Malloy and Presley agreed that sweeping Lake Travis on the road last month has been the highlight so far. That could all change if they win the school’s first state championship since 1992.
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“We had really high goals for ourselves and we play in an incredibly good district,” Woods aid. “They have just as many (Division I) players as we do. Our girls really bonded off the court. This season was a family atmosphere with our whole program, our whole team.”
Austin High is loaded with talent. The top three players are Malloy (who’ll play at USC), Presley (Texas) and setter/outside hitter Maggie McCarroll (Arkansas). As for depth, the Maroons rely on libero Laven Blumoff (University of Denver) and middle blocker Charlotte Sigler (Grinnell College).
Austin Maroons middle blocker Camille Presley (24) serves the ball against the Cornerstone Christian Warriors during the second set at the non-district volleyball game on Tuesday, Sept 30, 2025, Austin High School in Austin, TX.
John Gutierrez Photo/@GutierrezPhotos
Former Maroons state champs offered words of wisdom
“I had confidence that we’d (go deep in the postseason), but I don’t know if I had as much confidence we’d be in the state championship (as Woods did),” the 6-foot-4Â Malloy said. “Or maybe I hadn’t thought about it yet. But as the season progressed, it was more of a thing that was on our mind. Going to state felt attainable and possible.”
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The Maroons received a boost of confidence last week when two members of the 1992 state champions, outside hitter Jennifer Orr and setter Ana Stanton, stopped by practice to tell them about their experiences at state.
“Their words (focused on) staying in the moment, staying in the present, staying with the team helped us push though,” Presley said.
Last Saturday, Austin High played a win-or-go-home match against Katy Tompkins in a Class 6A Division II state semifinal. After losing the first two sets, the Maroons rallied and won the last three 26-24, 25-20 and 15-13. Behind Malloy (25 kills, 11 digs) and McCarroll (19 kills, 20 assists), Austin High fought off two match points in the third set to keep its hopes alive.
“We can’t imagine losing,” McCarroll said. “That hasn’t crossed our minds. And that was true in the Tompkins game when we were down 0-2. It’s not a sense of arrogance it’s having confidence in the team.”
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Austin Maroons libero Laven Blumoff (11) serves the ball against the Cornerstone Christian Warriors during the first set at the non-district volleyball game on Tuesday, Sept 30, 2025, Austin High School in Austin, TX.
John Gutierrez Photo/@GutierrezPhotos
Cedar Park: back at state as ‘battle-tested team’
In Class 5A DII, Cedar Park is back in the state finals after sweeping Friendswood. Outside hitters Joy Udoye and Mya Cheatum provided 13 kills apiece while setter Katelyn Hughes chipped in with 21 assists and nine digs.
This week coach Lori McLaughin said her team is “battle-tested.” With good reason.
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All but two teams the Timberwolves played in non-district games failed to make the playoffs. The list includes Lake Travis, Westlake, Wimberley, Aledo and Lucas Lovejoy.
The Timberwolves (38-12) play Argyle (38-3) in the state title game at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Culwell Center.
Wimberley seeks eighth state volleyball title
Despite winning the Class 4A DII state championship last season, the Texans figured this would be a rebuilding season, head coach Misty Fletcher-Remmers said.
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“I think there was this idea that we lost too many key players and couldn’t make it back to state, but the girls have worked hard and pushed themselves so they could get to this point,” she said.Â
Wimberley tuned up for state with a sweep over Salado last week. Key players include senior right side hitter Lilli Sandoval (408 kills) and freshman outside hitter Trinity Laney (383 kills).Â
Wimberley (46-5) will face Fort Worth Eagle Mountain (37-11) at 6 p.m. Friday.Â
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