VYPE Tourney Wrap: 2019 John Turner Classic

It was only the first tournament of the 2019-20 Texas High School volleyball season, but The Woodlands and Reagan (San Antonio) squads showed why they'll be ranked high in any upcoming rankings.

Both the Lady Highlanders and Rattlers reached the Gold Bracket Championship Match of the Adidas/John Turner Classic (JTC) this past weekend, powering their way through tough schedules to each go 8-0 and reach the final match.

Both VYPE-area schools put on a great match. Reagan neutralized The Woodlands' offense in Set 1, winning by a decisive 25-14 margin. However, the Highlanders made adjustments as their highly-potent offense – led by tournament MVP Dylan Maberry and tournament Outstanding Setter Clara Brower – hit their stride and won the next two sets (25-21, 25-18) to claim the Adidas/JTC championship.

Episcopal of Houston swept Deer Park (25-23, 25-21) in the third-place match in the Gold Bracket. Dripping Springs defeated Boswell in two sets (25-21, 25-23) in the fifth-place match.

Maberry, held to just four kills in the first set against Reagan, heated up and slammed three kills in the first seven serves of Set 2 to help the Highlanders take a 5-2 lead. They would expand that lead to eight point (21-13) before the Raiders – led by junior Julia Aleman, named the tourney's Outstanding Hitter – came back to make it 23-21. However, an unforced error then service ace by Uyen Ho closed out the set for the Highlanders, 25-21.

The third and deciding set was close early on, as the teams stayed within two points of each other. With the set tied at 11-11, The Woodlands used an ace by Ho and two kills by Amanda Ifeanyi to go up 14-11.

The Highlanders later used a 6-0 run to open the gap to 22-15; Brower eventually closed out the match with a dump kill for the 25-18 margin of victory.

Maberry, a first-team player on the 2018 K-MAC/VYPE All-State Elite team, slammed 15 kills, had one solo block and one block-assist to lead the Highlanders. Brower, a second-team All-State Elite setter, dished out 29 assists and served up one ace in the win.

Other contributors for coach Teri Wade's Highlanders included Ifeanyi (10 kills), freshman Julieta Valdes six kills, one block-assist) and junior Tash Zorbas (two block-assists and one kill).

Aleman led the Rattlers with ten kills and served up two aces. Senior Lylah Washington and junior Nyah Anderson, both named to the All-Tournament team, chipped in: Washington tallied seven kills, one solo block and one block-assist while Anderson had seven kills. Senior setters Madeline Solzer (19 assists) and Nadine Manitzas (11 dishes) paced the offense.

Reagan Libero Maddie Correa was named all-Tournament Defensive MVP.

Clear Springs defeated returning Class 6A state finalist Ridge Point in three sets (23-25, 25-28 25-22) to take the Silver Bracket Championship. Clear Spings beat Bellaire and New Braunfels to get to the Silver title match while Ridge Point swept Denton Guyer and Samuel Clemens to create the matchup.

Clear Falls won the Bronze Bracket by sweeping state semifinalist 6AConnor (San Antonio), 25-21 and 25-19. Manvel swept Friendswood (25-14, 25-19) to take the title in the Copper Bracket.

2019 Adidas/John Turner Classic All-Tournament Awards

MVP: Dylan Maberry (Sr.), The Woodlands

Outstanding Hitter: Julia Aleman (Jr.), Reagan

Outstanding Setter: Clara Brower (Jr.), The Woodlands

Outstanding Defensive Player: Maddie Correa (Jr.), Reagan

*All-Tournament team: The Woodlands (Allie Griffith, Amanda Ifeanyi); Reagan (Lylah Washington, Nyah Anderson, Nadia Manitzas); Episcopal (Cimone Woodard, Camile Hannah); Deer Park (Pheobe Stigen, Hannah Baker); Dripping Springs (Avery Kalsu, Mackenzie Murray); Dawson (Aliyah McDonald, Dahlia Miller); Pearland (Chloe Jordan, Jackie Arrington); Boswell (Isabella Moore, Emily Ah Leong); Ridge Point (Regan Rutherford); Clear Springs (Alana Dawson)