GAMES
RANKINGS
THE PINNACLE: 2025 UIL Volleyball State Finals Preview -- Highland Park vs. A&M Consolidated (5A-D1)
WHERE: Curtis Culwell Center -- Garland, TX
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE UIL VOLLEYBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKETS/RESULTS
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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. Factor in 6-foot-5 senior middle Lydia Fisher (California–San Diego), and it’s no surprise the front line is as potent as it is.
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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CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE UIL VOLLEYBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKETS/RESULTS
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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