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THE PINNACLE: 2025 UIL Volleyball State Finals Preview -- Cedar Park vs. Argyle (5A-D2)
WHERE: Curtis Culwell Center -- Garland, TX
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE UIL VOLLEYBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKETS/RESULTS
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Picking up right where they left off a year ago, Cedar Park (38–12) is back on the brink of a championship. The Timberwolves stormed into the 5A-DII title game after a decisive sweep of Friendswood last Saturday, securing their second straight trip to Garland — and the program’s fourth overall since 2012.
Since taking over in 2019, head coach Lori McLaughlin has steadily molded Cedar Park into a perennial contender. With the entire starting rotation returning, the group enters Saturday’s state final playing with the assurance of a veteran unit that expected to be here. And after falling to Wakeland in last year’s match, the Timberwolves have been fueled all season by the chance to flip the script.
Some of the standouts for 2025-26 Cedar Park VolleyballBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
That effort has been anchored by senior outside hitter and Stanford-signee Joy Udoye, the reigning District 25-5A MVP, who has piled up 568 kills and 358 digs while eclipsing 2,000 career kills earlier this month. Opposite her is Incarnate Word-signee Mya Cheatum, whose 411 kills and steady presence make her the Knuckles to Udoye’s Sonic — a power duo that has overwhelmed opponents on both pins.
Cedar Park’s system thrives on rhythm, and its two-setter operation of Katelyn Hughes and Sibley Oster remains a defining strength. Hughes, a Lamar-commit, enters the final with 806 assists and 425 digs, while Oster, headed to Cal State-Fullerton, has added another 572 assists, giving the Timberwolves enviable balance and continuity.
The supporting cast is just as seasoned. Junior DS Anna Kurz, last year’s District Newcomer of the Year, surpassed 1,000 career digs behind a remarkable 700-plus this fall. Senior middle Sienna Benavides provides backbone at the net, contributing 280 kills and a team-leading 124 blocks. Together, the group’s cohesion — more than any single statistic — is what has carried Cedar Park back to the dance.
But waiting on the other side is an Argyle squad built with a similarly experienced backbone and its own unfinished business.
The Eagles (38–3), led by head coach Katelyn Johnson, were also knocked out by Wakeland last fall — this time in the State Semifinals — and have spent the past year eyeing a return built on growth rather than resentment.
Mission accomplished. Argyle powered to its seventh Final Four appearance and punched its ticket with a 3–1 triumph over Liberty last weekend. Now, the Eagles chase the program’s second UIL State Championship, nine years removed from its 2015 title run in 4A.
Where Cedar Park leans on its firepower, Argyle’s calling card is its superb defensive foundation. Senior DS Teagan Barnett has followed up her first-team, all-district season by eclipsing 500 digs, serving as the anchor of a backline that rarely yields clean swings.
The Eagles also operate with a dynamic two-setter system, featuring junior first-teamer Karsyn Rogers — an Arizona State-commit — and sophomore Makenna Gregory, who together have amassed nearly 1,100 assists and 500 digs. Their tempo forces opponents into constant adjustments.
Offensively, Argyle spreads the wealth, essentially forcing opponents to pick their poison. Freshman phenom Alexis Elsey has emerged as the headliner, leading the team with 312 kills and 263 digs — putting District 6-5A Newcomer of the Year honors firmly within reach. Meanwhile, seniors Hannah Baker and Susanna Hodson (Oklahoma Christian) have flourished in expanded roles, each clearing the 200-kill mark with veteran poise.
Two programs with parallel motivations. But only one can be crowned this Saturday in Garland.
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CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE UIL VOLLEYBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKETS/RESULTS
