Lovejoy's Averi Carlson (9) and Lexie Collins (19) team up for a block in the 5A State Championship game.
Lovejoy capped an incredible 26-0 season last Saturday by winning the UIL State 5A Volleyball Championship in a 3-0 sweep over Fulshear. This marked the 8th state title win for the Leopards in the school's 14 years.
Duncanville leads off in huge opener with Allen
The Panthers and Eagles will open the season Friday night at Eagle Stadium in a matchup that feels more like a playoff game than Week 1.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
And for Allen, there is a little unfinished business.
The Eagles' 2025 season came to an end at the hands of Duncanville, which defeated Allen 31-9 in the Class 6A Division I state semifinals. Duncanville went on to finish 12-2 and advance to the state championship game, while Allen finished 14-1.
Now the two Texas powers meet again, only this time with a clean slate.
"This isn't last year," will be the message on both sidelines.
But it's hard to ignore the history.
Duncanville enters the season ranked No. 10 nationally by MaxPreps, while Allen checks in at No. 18. Both programs have championship expectations, and Friday night's opener will provide an immediate test for two teams with plenty of talent.
For Duncanville, four-star Purdue commit Trenton Yancey is one of the players capable of changing the game every time he touches the football.
The Class of 2027 standout is a versatile weapon who can line up at receiver, take carries out of the backfield and create matchup problems all over the field.
Allen will have to account for him wherever he lines up.
On the other side, the Eagles are ushering in a new era at quarterback with Ty Snell.
The Class of 2029 quarterback enters his first season as Allen's QB1 with more than 30 Division I offers already to his name. His first season-opening start will come against one of the state's most established programs.
He'll have a special weapon alongside him.
Wide receiver Zach Williams, also a Class of 2029 standout with more than 30 Division I offers, gives Snell an explosive target and creates the possibility of a dynamic young quarterback-receiver connection.
The Snell-to-Williams combination could become one of the most intriguing storylines in Texas high school football this season.
But they'll have to navigate a Duncanville defense led in part by Nelson Burns, a senior who returns with experience in the Panthers' defensive system.
For Allen, the challenge is more than simply beating Duncanville.
It's about setting the tone for a new season.
The Eagles have won five state championships and enter 2026 with the talent and expectations that come with being one of the state's premier programs. Duncanville has three state titles of its own and has established itself as a perennial contender under legendary head coach Reginald Samples.
Friday's matchup gives both programs an opportunity to make an early statement.
For Duncanville, it's a chance to show that last year's run was no fluke.
For Allen, it's a chance to turn the page on the game that ended its championship dreams.
And for everyone watching, it's one of the biggest games on the opening-week schedule.
The rematch is here.
Only this time, there's an entire season ahead of both teams.
Plano East's Dakota Huynh
The countdown to volleyball season is on, and now it's your turn to join the conversation. Vote for the player you believe deserves to be recognized as the 2026 VYPE DFW Preseason Volleyball Player of the Year among the area's standout liberos.
Voting will remain open through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, August 14th.
McKinney North's Malia McNeal (Tarleton State commit)
The countdown to volleyball season is on, and now it's your turn to join the conversation. Vote for the player you believe deserves to be recognized as the 2026 VYPE DFW Preseason Volleyball Player of the Year among the area's standout setters.
Voting will remain open through 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, August 13th.
Join the #VYPETEAM
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