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PLAYOFFS PREVIEW: Arlington Martin gears up for Prosper volleyball
Matches intensify as various teams continue into the Texas High School Volleyball Playoffs. For the Prosper Lady Eagles and Arlington Martin Lady Warriors, fans are anticipating a tough showdown on Friday night. VYPE DFW takes a look into both teams and lays out exactly what fans can expect heading into this round two matchup:
Arlington Martin Lady Warriors (25-12, 14-0)
The Lady Warriors put in the work all season to get to this point. Through non-district play, Arlington Martin went 11-12 with hard-fought victories over Richland, Fort Bend Austin, New Braunfels, Kerrville Tivy, Granbury, and more. As the team headed into district play, they knew they would have to kick it into high-gear as they faced off against tough opponents.
Through district play, the Lady Warriors remained undefeated. In fact, the team dropped only one set against their district opponents all season long. With statement victories over the likes of Arlington Lamar, Grand Prairie, South Grand Prairie, and more, Arlington Martin put themselves on the map and headed into playoffs.
Natalia Newsome, Abby Smith, Brooke Perry, Ashley Awuor, Lauren Adams, Kalei Davis, and other talented athletes lead the charge on the court for the Lady Warriors. Already sending Richardson home last week with a 3-0 sweep, the Lady Warriors are looking to continue their win streak as they face a tough Prosper squad.
Prosper Lady Eagles (33-9, 12-2)
With a 33-9 overall record, the Prosper Lady Eagles went 21-7 in non-district play. Posting outstanding victories over Frisco Independence, Wylie, Grapevine, Frisco Wakeland, Frisco Liberty, Weatherford, Rockwall, and more, the Lady Eagles have been showcasing their talent on the court from the start of the season. Heading into district play, the team was well prepared for anything that was going to be thrown at them.
With the drive to succeed paired with focus and determination, athletes like Ayden Ames, Sydney Thornton, Reese Renfrow, Jayla Jackson, Audrey Hunt, Keely Harrington, Hannah Beauford, Sophie Bridges, and more stepped up during district play and focused on getting their job done. With big-time victories over the likes of Denton Guyer, Denton Braswell, McKinney, Little Elm, Allen, and more, the team dropped only two matches through district play before heading into the playoffs.
So far in playoffs, the Lady Eagles have sent Plano West packing during a round one 3-0 sweep. Prosper looks to pull out all the stop against an Arlington Martin team they have already beaten this season.
What To Expect
Having already faced each other in early August, both teams are willing to do what it takes to make it to the next level. Arlington Martin is looking for revenge after falling 3-0 to Prosper already this season. Knowing what to watch for and on a high from their win streak, the Lady Warriors are going to be a tough squad on the court. On the other hand, Prosper knows what they're doing and is no stranger to a challenge. Resilient and focused, the Lady Eagles can be expected to remain steady throughout the game on Friday with the drive to set the tone early.
The match is set to begin at 6:30 PM on Friday, November 3rd at the neutral site of Hebron High School.
Plano West gears up for last leg before the playoffs
With just a handful of games to go before the playoffs begin, Plano West is working hard to improve their record in district battles against tough opponents. Following a first-place finish in their district standings last year and a playoff appearance that ended in a battle against Prosper in which Plano West was sent home, the Lady Wolves are on a mission to finish strong this season. VYPE DFW takes a look at the team so far:
So Far
The team opened their season strong with a couple of victories over South Grand Prairie and Allen. Fighting hard through non-district play, the Lady Wolves already had an impressive overall record before even entering district play (15-3). Plano West secured incredible victories over non-district opponents like Keller, Highland Park, McKinney, McKinney North, McKinney Boyd, Hockaday, and more while allowing only 18 sets to be won against them and winning 43 sets of their own.
Plano West opened up district play on the road with a sweep in sets over Coppell (3-0) before also taking down Plano, Lewisville, and Flower Mound Marcus in the same fashion. The team's only two losses in district play have come against Plano East and their second matchup against Plano.
Led by the likes of Kate Mansfield, Aajaylah Zeno, Kaitlyn Brewer, Blaire Bowers, Reese Poerner, Katlyn Vo, Ella Willenborg, and others, this Lady Wolves squad has shown resiliency and strength each time they have made an appearance on the court
What's Ahead
As the team currently sits in the second-place spot in their district standings-- just behind Plano East-- they gear up to face off against Flower Mound Marcus on 10/13 on the road. Then, the team will take on Plano East on the road with the determination to bounce back from their previous meeting and secure a victory. From there, the Lady Wolves take on Hebron before closing out district play at home against Flower Mound.
Fans can expect the Lady Wolves to remain focused. Driven and ready to play strong against the rest of their district opponents, Plano West is a strong competitor that can enter playoffs with impactful victories. Be sure you catch this team in action through the rest of district play.