Each week, VYPE Employees Josh W., Scott, Shana and Josh K, along with VYPEU Ambassador Will Turboff will make their picks from 5 different games for both Austin and San Antonio and keep track of their records throughout the year to see who can be the Pick 'em Champ.
Will now has sole possession of 1st place, but can he hang on to it with some very tough games to choose from?
Here are Week 7's Picks for Austin:
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There is so much fun to be had at a VYPE Media Days!
From team and individual pictures, social media shout-outs and video interviews, it is all there for the student-athletes to feel like a superstar.
Our team traveled to Hutto HS for their 2024 Winter Media Day recently. Check out the behind-the-scenes hype video below!
What a year it has been for Cedar Park.
After being eliminated in the foundational rounds of the playoffs over the past few seasons, the Timberwolves (34-15) now see themselves in the UIL State Final for the first time since 2016.
This feat was accomplished on the heels of their 3-1 victory over fellow Austin-area contender Georgetown earlier this week, and there are plenty of flowers to distribute among head coach Lori McLaughlin, her staff, and, of course, the players who made it happen.
Offensive production has been in ample supply, thanks to the efforts of Joy Udoye (571 kills, 349 digs), Mya Cheatum (391 kills), and Sofia Peters (380 kills, 111 blocks).
However, that's not to dismiss the help they've received from the back-line, which is bolstered by the talents of Katelyn Hughes (712 assists, 374 digs), Anna Kurz (447 digs, 134 assists), Sibley Oster (652 assists), and freshman Blake Gilkey (449 receptions, 241 digs).
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On the other side of the net, out of Frisco, TX, Wakeland is making their UIL State Final-debut, following their five-set win against Argyle on Tuesday night.
Given the point they're currently at, the Wolverines (34-6) -- under the direction of coach U'iLani Womble -- are obviously in the midst of the finest performance the program has ever seen.
The No. 12-ranked (No. 22, nationally) team in Texas, according to MaxPreps, is firing on all cylinders at this moment.
Considering that volleyball is a team sport, it's only natural that numerous individuals should receive some praise for this feat.
LSU-commit Hannah Lee (459 kills), and seniors Bella Wood (Sam Houston State // 382 kills) and Sarah Pfiffner (West Virginia // 774 assists, 262 kills, 331 digs) make up the three-headed monster for Wakeland, in terms of star-power.
They're complemented by the talents of Aubree Fernandez (659 digs), Jaleah Bauss (518 assists), and Emerson Jones (68 blocks), which makes them a well-rounded rotation worth fearing.
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This will be undoubtedly be a State match worth watching. Don't miss out when they go head-to-head Saturday (12:00 pm) at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, TX.
Here comes Cedar Park
Cedar Park volleyball is on a roll.
Coach Lori McLaughlin and the Timberwolves (26-15) have run the table in district (11-0) with a mix of interesting athletes.
The starters are made up of one senior, four juniors and a sophomore. First off the bench are a pair of freshmen. Wait, what?
Senior Sofia Peters is a national soccer recruit, signed with UTSA, while their libero is a sophomore move-in from Baton Rouge. The hammer is Joy Udoye, a national recruit as a junior, while Mya Cheatum is another weapon on the outside.
“I tell this team to, ‘play loose, play for each other and have fun’,” coach McLaughlin said. “That’s what they do. There is no finger-pointing, and everyone knows their role.”
Udoye is their “go-to” scorer and sets the tone.
“She has a great work ethic and a calmness on the court,” she said. “But, we have an amazing supporting cast, starting with Sofia. She is having a career year. You better respect Mya, because she comes in firing. They all have an edge to them from practice to the games.”
Juniors Sibley Oster and Katelyn Hughes handle the setting duties and super soph Anna Kurz is all over the floor. Freshmen Harper Bohnen (OH) and Blake Gilkey (DS) have huge careers in front of them.
“It’s funny, those freshmen haven’t really had that ‘I’m-a-freshman’ moment,” she said. “They can play.”
Don’t let their record fool you. It was by design.
“Oh yes, we front-loaded our schedule,” she said. “We wanted to play the best big-school competition we could before district play. We took some L’s but we got better. Now, we are prepared for the postseason.”
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