VCA freshman middle blocker Ceattle Cooper elevates to hit the ball back over the net in the Lady Patriots’ 3-0 TAPPS 2A District 2 home win against Muenster Sacred Heart Sept. 29. The Lady Patriots (22-9, 10-2) will face Lubbock Kingdom Prep Academy in the area round of the TAPPS playoffs 6 p.m. Tuesday at Childress High School. Micah McCartney/WCMessenger
The Victory Christian Academy Lady Patriots are hoping to take their first steps toward a trip to Waco, as the team prepares for its first match of the 2026 TAPPS 2A postseason.
After claiming a first-round bye, VCA (22-9, 10-2) will take on Lubbock Kingdom Prep Academy in an area-round 6 p.m. Tuesday at Childress High School.
The Warriors finished the regular season at 5-8 and earned a first-round bye after finishing in District 1 play behind Lubbock All Saints Episcopal, according to MaxPreps.
“From what I’ve seen on video, [Kingdom Prep] is very solid defensively,” VCA coach Stacey Morales said. “They don’t give up much easy plays. I did see that they don’t have a lot of hard hitters, but they keep the ball in play and they’re scrappy. They’ve got one girl who can block pretty well, so we have to be smart and move the ball around her.”
VCA — the winner of seven state championships during its time competing in the Texas Christian Athletic Fellowship — has earned three straight trips to the TAPPS playoffs since joining the organization prior to the 2024 season.
“It’s always our goal to make the playoffs and see how far we can go,” Morales said. “To be able to do that three years in a row in a competitive league like TAPPS is an accomplishment. We’ve had some hardships on the team this year, but the girls kept fighting. I think their fight is going to carry us a long way.”
Morales believes the Lady Patriots’ key to success in their first postseason outing will be attacking from the service line and at the net.
“We have to serve well,” she said. “Even if don’t get an ace, we can at least keep them out of system and make it to where they can’t set up. We also need to have our hitters swing and not be afraid to put it down.”
VCA suffered a loss in its final district outing, dropping the league title match to Harvest Christian 3-1 at home — 21-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-14.
The Lady Patriots are expected to be without the services of reigning Wise County Blocker of the Year Ella McKenzie — a sophomore middle blocker — who suffered an ankle injury in the second half of district play.
“It’s been hard without McKenzie, but Ceattle [Cooper] has really stepped up and done well,” Morales said. “She’s only a freshman, but she’s a great defensive player, and does well from the service line. [Sophomore setter] Anderli Stanford’s done well playing six rotations for us, and she’s got a strong hit that’s kind of like a secret weapon. We’re hoping we have a shot to get Ella back on the court if we win our first match.”
With a win over Kingdom Prep Academy, VCA will face the winner of Red Oak Ovilla Christian and district rival Muenster Sacred Heart in the regional round Saturday. Match details have yet to be released.