GAMES
RANKINGS
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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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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