WHERE: Curtis Culwell Center -- Garland, TX
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For Highland Park (42–8), the path back to this stage has been paved with a bit of poetic justice. Head coach Michael Dearman and company have strung together 20 straight wins on their impeccable journey to the title game — including a particularly meaningful one.
In last week’s Region II Final, the Scots once again ran into McKinney North — the very team that eliminated them from the 2024 playoffs before storming to a 5A-DI Runner-Up finish. This time, Highland Park controlled the moment, sweeping the Bulldogs before repeating that effort against Aledo in the Semifinals.
Now, the No. 4-ranked team in Texas (MaxPreps) returns to the championship match for the first time since 2008, aiming to secure the program’s first-ever UIL crown.
On offense, the Scots feature a well-structured attack headlined by senior Brooklyn Bailey, a Memphis-signee and last year’s District 12-5A Hitter of the Year. Alongside her is sophomore standout Sarah Floyd, the reigning district Newcomer of the Year, who has stepped comfortably into a major role during HP’s postseason surge.
Defensively, the Scots rely on Arizona-bound libero Georgia “Gigi” Whann, last season’s 12-5A Libero of the Year. Her court command and passing consistency have helped stabilize a backline that rarely gives opponents clean looks. Senior DS Tiffany Lindo, a first-team, all-district selection, adds another layer of reliability to a defensive unit that has been as disciplined as it has been dynamic.
But in A&M Consolidated, Highland Park meets a program writing its own euphoric story.
After finishing second in District 17-5A, A&M Consolidated (37–9) has surged when the lights burned brightest. The Tigers stunned the state last week by sweeping crosstown rival College Station in the Regional Final — a victory that clinched their first State Tournament appearance since 2014. They followed it up with a composed, four-set win over New Braunfels in the Semis, sealing the school’s inaugural trip to the UIL State Championship match.
Explosiveness remains a defining trait for head coach Laura Korenek’s squad, and nowhere is that more evident than in the Tigers’ front-row firepower. Freshman outside hitter Harper Korenek has been a revelation, erupting for just under 500 kills while adding 356 digs — a résumé likely to earn her Newcomer of the Year honors.
She forms a potent one-two punch with senior Jillian Vinal, an East Texas A&M-signee and the Swiss Army knife of Consol’s operation. Whether setting or shifting to the right side, Vinal has supplied 305 kills, 568 assists, and 347 digs, showcasing an increasingly versatile skill set.
Rounding out the offensive arsenal are seniors Mia Cross (179 kills, 336 digs), a UT-Tyler signee, and Sammie Smith, who is Arkansas Tech-bound and has chipped in 279 kills of her own. Meanwhile, at the controls is sophomore setter Kendall Newton, whose nearly 800 assists have elevated the offense’s tempo and balance throughout the playoff run.
By the final whistle, one program will leave with its first UIL title — a breakthrough years in the making. The other will walk away knowing it stood on the sport’s biggest stage. Either way, Saturday promises a finish worthy of two teams that have surged into Texas volleyball’s brightest spotlight.
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