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The 2-Step: UIL Volleyball Regional Tourney Breakdowns
It’s Regional weekend for the UIL Volleyball playoffs, as teams are on the cusp of the State Tournament.
The final teams in the Class 6A-Division are slated to compete this Friday. Region II will play at the Lufkin Multi-Purpose Arena as The Woodlands faces Waxahachie and Rockwall battles Bridgeland.
Region III
Team facing off in the Delmar Fieldhouse, with Tompkins vs. Clear Springs @ 5 pm and Cinco Ranch vs. Dawson @ 7 pm.
Class 5A-Division III
The Final Four will play at the Merrell Center on Friday, with Fulshear vs. Lake Creek @ 5 pm and Manvel vs. Brenham @ 7 pm.
The winners will advance to the Regional Finals which take place on Saturday, leading up to the State Championship.
So, that begs the question… who will advance?
Class 6A Region III
Tompkins takes care of Clear Springs. The Falcons are hitting on all cylinders. They will likely play Cinco Ranch in the Finals, who blanked Stratford 3-0 in the Quarters. Dawson will be a tough out, but Cinco should win. Tompkins will advance to State, having Cinco’s number this year.
Class 6A Region II
The Woodlands and Waxahachie were tested in five-set wins in the Quarters. This is a very evenly-matched contest, but the Highlanders are more battle-tested in a tougher district. TWHS is not long and athletic, but plays amazing defense.
Bridgeland beat Rockwall in a tournament this season 2-0 and this game should be no different. The Bears are loaded with offense and will advance. Bridgeland is 41-8 on the season, but four of those losses came at the hands of Cypress Ranch. TWHS swept Cy Ranch in the postseason already. Hmmmm… So, what gives?
VYPE says The Woodlands reaches State, giving the Greater Houston-area two of the State's Final Four team.
In Class 5A, it's the old veterans of Lake Creek vs the young guns at Fulshear. The Chargers have so much experience as a program at this point, reaching the Regional Tourney and beyond. Fulshear has too much fire-power and knocks off Brenham.
Manvel has been in serious flex-mode but the Brenham Bears have been balling all year too. Brenham has won 11-straight games in a tougher district. The Bears will advance to play Fulshear, but their luck stops there. The Chargers charge on to State.
Lovejoy goes for title #8 against Fulshear in the 5A UIL State volleyball finals
Last season, Lovejoy finished the season with a state title and a 48-5 record. On Saturday, Lucas Lovejoy will have the opportunity to extend its Dallas-area record for most state titles as the Leopards go for their 8th title in 13 years.
With 7 titles under their belt, the defending UIL Conference 5A state champs have two more titles than anyone else in Texas in a time span of 13-years. Should their win number 8 on Saturday, it will be the first completely undefeated season since their program began playing varsity volleyball in 2007. The Leopards have not been this close to an undefeated season ever. In fact, the fewest matches they've ever lost in a season was a decade ago when the 2010 squad lost only 3 matches all season and defeated Wimberley (3-1) in the state title game.
With 10 seniors - all of whom are committed to play either indoor or beach volleyball in college - Lovejoy is ready to take on Lamar Fulshear in the 2020 state title game. "It's probably the best leadership, the best defense, the best ball control, best setting," head coach Ryan Mitchell said after their semifinal win over Grapevine. "It's so deep. I'm constantly subbing kids and there is no drop-off."
Lovejoy, currently 25-0 this season, has lost only two sets the entire season. "It never gets old," TCU signee Cecily Bramschreiber said. "With the name Lovejoy on your shirt [winning] is expected, but we want to have the mind-set that it's never given to us."
The Leopards will have a chance to prove their strength against possibly their most difficult opponent this season yet in the state match. Lamar Fulshear is 26-4 on the season having lost only 16 of 98 sets against tough opponents like The Woodlands, Katy, Manvel, and more. In 2019, Fulshear played in the UIL Class 4A title match where they ended the season with a championship trophy to display and - of course - bragging rights. After UIL's realignment, Fulshear moved up to 5A where they have checked off every box necessary to prove that they belong playing with the best teams in Texas 5A volleyball. With a six-game win streak, the Chargers advanced to the state title match after sweeping Dripping Springs in the semifinal game on Tuesday.
Lucas Lovejoy and Lamar Fulshear are set to take the court at noon at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland.