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St. Agnes Academy Volleyball
BLOCK PARTY: No. 1 St. Agnes Academy ready to chase crown in 2021
The Tigers of St. Agnes Academy have been one of the best volleyball programs in the city the past couple of seasons. The program that Cydryce McMillian has built in a short time is impressive.
The Tigers won a state title two years ago (2019), which was their first in 14 years. Last season, they reached the TAPPS 6A State Championship match again, falling 3-2 to Argyle Liberty Christian. The team does say goodbye to first-team, all-stater and University of Iowa-signee Toyosi Onabanjo but do bring back some pieces.
First-team, all-state pick Sophie Agee and second-team, all-stater Piper Stephenson are back for the 2021 season, and those two will be the leaders of this group. Also returning are second-team, all-district picks Grace Webber and Alexis Visintine.
Another player to watch will be senior setter Nicole Dworaczyk. The motto for St. Agnes academy this season is "Apply the Pressure".
Can they do that on the way to another state title?
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Defend the Den: St. Agnes Academy returns to TAPPS 6A State Title Match with 3-1 victory
HOUSTON - Last year Cydryce McMillian coined the team motto "Level Up" for the 2019 season for her St. Agnes Academy Tigers.
A year later McMillian, who helped guide the Tigers to their first TAPPS State Championship since 2005 last season, was standing on the sidelines inside Houston Christian's gym watching as her team went toe-to-toe with Concordia Lutheran in the state semifinals again.
With a spot in the TAPPS 6A State Championship on the line, McMillian's squad made sure to "Defend the Den" and defeat the Crusaders 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-21) on Tuesday to punch its ticket.
"We're going to take state," McMillian said with a smile. "We've been talking about 11-21 all season. It's our turn to take state, go back-to-back and write the history books again."
VYPE 🏐 Highlights 🎥: @saa_vb defeated @clhstxathletics 3-1 on Tuesday in the @TAPPSvolleyball 6A State Semis. Amazing plays on both sides! Check out the highlights. #VYPECampus @ToyosiOnabanjo @BrookeFrazierr @SophiaKeene__ @StAgnesAcademy @saa_bball @KPRC2RandyMc @HTownHSS pic.twitter.com/tTKOgLRMjk
— vypehouston (@vypehouston) November 18, 2020
St. Agnes Academy will play for the TAPPS 6A State Championship on Saturday at New Braunfels Christian Academy. The match is slated for a 7 p.m. first serve.
REWATCH THE ST. AGNES ACADEMY VS CONCORDIA LUTHERAN BROADCAST
The Tigers on Tuesday were led by junior Sophie Agee's 13 kills and 20-plus digs, Kendall Harris chipped in 12 kills, Grace Webber had 34 assists and 12 digs and Toyosi Onabanjo had eight kills and six digs. Lexi Visintine had 17 digs, Emily Clark had 13 digs, Nicole Dworacyk had 15 assists and Piper Stephenson had eight kills.
VYPE Postgame: Caught up with @saa_vb junior @sophie_agee who had 13 kills and 20-plus digs in the win tonight as the Tigers head back to the state title match. #txhsvb @GHVCA @TAPPSvolleyball @ToyosiOnabanjo @saa_soc @StAgnesAcademy @saa_bball pic.twitter.com/h0efQOYI1Q
— vypehouston (@vypehouston) November 18, 2020
Agee, who had a double double on Tuesday, calls heading back to the title match is "surreal".
"That feeling last year we indescribable," Agee said. "I can't wait to do that again with my team. I have a really good feeling about the match on Saturday.
"These seniors are so important to me, they've made such an impact on my life, it would mean the world to me to win another state title with them."
One of those seniors is Onabanjo, who is slated to sign with the University of Iowa volleyball team on Wednesday.
"We've been in the gym every single day working our butts off for two hours and coming out and trying to be the best we can on and off the court," Onabanjo said. "We've been a really close team."
VYPE Postgame: @saa_vb senior and soon to be @IowaVolleyball signee @ToyosiOnabanjo talks with VYPE after the win. @StAgnesAcademy going for 2nd straight state title on Saturday now. @GHVCA @TAPPSvolleyball @TAPPSbiz @HTownHSS @KPRC2RandyMc @KPRC2Vanessa #txhsvb #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/lcvn78pmWX
— vypehouston (@vypehouston) November 18, 2020
Just like last year's motto "Level Up", the Tigers' rallying call of 2020 had been "DefendTheDen - one more win St. Agnes Academy would have done just that.
"Personally I think it means playing as a unit," Harris said. "Our coach always tell us to honor our opponent with our best effort. I think Defending the Den is really putting all our effort into it and playing as a unit collectively."
VYPE Postgame: Caught up with @Kendall91624329 after the win as she had 12 kills (second most) for @saa_vb #txhsvb #DefendTheDen @ToyosiOnabanjo @saa_soc @saa_bball @StAgnesAcademy @TAPPSvolleyball pic.twitter.com/1R7zGKPr6I
— vypehouston (@vypehouston) November 18, 2020