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THE PINNACLE: 2025 UIL Volleyball State Finals Preview -- Dawson vs. Byron Nelson (6A-D1)
WHERE: Curtis Culwell Center -- Garland, TX
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE UIL VOLLEYBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKETS/RESULTS
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The Dawson Eagles moments after their 3-0 victory over Seven Lakes in the Region III Final (11/11/2025)Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
Not much more can be said about Dawson and the unprecedented trail blazed by coach Lauren Leth’s squad. In their first appearance on the UIL Final Four stage last Saturday, the Eagles left everything on the floor at HISD’s Delmar Fieldhouse, battling point for point before ultimately outlasting San Antonio powerhouse O’Connor in a five-set masterpiece.
Improving to 42–4 on the year, Dawson has already etched its name into the history books by reaching the State Final. But the job isn’t finished yet.
The Eagles have been emboldened by several factors throughout the fall, none more prominent than their rallying anthem, “#WaitForIt.” Borrowed from the song of the same name in the musical Hamilton, the phrase has served as a unifying mantra dating back to the early days of training, according to senior libero Jenna Thedford.
Speaking of Thedford, on a roster brimming with alphas, she continues to stand out as the team’s catalyst, motivator, and on-court extension of the coach. The Texas A&M-signee is on pace to eclipse 700 digs this season, though she has already cemented her status as a Dawson legend.
Meanwhile, senior pin hitter Avery Koonsen (SFA-signee) has kept her foot on the gas, providing an extra spark for the Eagles with 529 kills and 328 digs. The attack is further bolstered by seniors MH Keaton Points (San Francisco) and OH Sloane Ranney (Grand Canyon University), who have combined for nearly 500 additional kills.
At the helm of the offense is Sloane’s sister, Taylor Ranney, also GCU-bound, delivering 750 assists from the setter spot, alongside freshman phenom Alexa Koonsen, who has added 460 assists of her own.
Gold is the goal — but Dawson’s toughest challenge yet still looms.
The Byron Nelson Bobcats following their 2024 UIL 6A-D2 State Championship acquisition at the Culwell Center (11/23/2024)Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
Byron Nelson (41–0), the No. 1-ranked team in Texas (MaxPreps) — and in the nation — has certainly lived up to the distinction. That comes as little surprise, considering the Trophy Club tyrants retained the entirety of last year’s 6A-D2 State Championship roster. Following their sweep of Cypress Ranch last weekend, the Bobcats advance to the Final riding an astonishing 77-game winning streak that stretches back to August 2024.
Head coach Brianne Groth’s all-star cast features not one, but two punishing forces on the pins in seniors Ashlyn “AJ” Seay (Rice signee) and Kylie Kleckner (Washington). The momentum this dynamic duo generates has proven virtually unstoppable, with both Seay and Kleckner amassing over 500 kills and 350 digs apiece this fall.
Orchestrating the attack is junior Sophee Peterson, a Texas A&M commit, who has excelled from the setter position with a staggering 1,459 assists. Add junior DS Savannah Sterna, who leads the team with 409 digs, and you have one of the most well-rounded units in the state.
Byron Nelson now sits just three set victories away from capturing the program’s third UIL title.
This matchup promises a true Clash of the Titans, as Dawson, with its grit and resilience, takes on the defending champions Byron Nelson, whose dominance and depth have defined 6A-D1 volleyball this season. Saturday’s showdown at the Culwell Center is set to be a battle worthy of the stakes and the hype, with history and glory hanging in the balance.
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CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE UIL VOLLEYBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKETS/RESULTS
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