UIL State Volleyball Championships open thread

Use the comments section in this post to discuss whatever you want about the state volleyball tournament. I'll monitor and give my thoughts, but this is for you to say whatever you want about your team, the other team, or how much you love/hate San Marcos. Whatever.

The picture above is AHS during a timeout in its win over Georgetown in the semifinals.

The fans in the stands are AHS supporters, who were loud.

To ealry to talk about Amarillo High going to State?

Probably so. But Amarillo High showed everybody something new in the No. 4 Lady Sandies' win over Tascosa on Tuesday.

Blocking.

And for a team who isn't horribly tall, that was a little bit of a weak spot before Tuesday. But a focus on the defensive move in the practices leading up to the crosstown rivalry match really made a difference.

While chatting with AHS coach Jan Barker today, I got the feeling the team impressed even her with their ability to keep Tascosa's hitters -- including Division I talent Thea Munch-Soegaard -- from putting the ball down.

Not only were AHS' front-row players getting above the net, but they were in the right positions and blocked the ball back at the Lady Rebels. It was a display I'd seen only while watching college volleyball.

That could complete the package for Amarillo High, and Tuesday's revelation may be something that springboards the three time defending Class 4A champions to another visit to the tournament in San Marcos.

Tascosa rebounds against Lubbock Coronado

The Lady Rebels (11-7, 2-1 District 2-5A) beat the Lady Mustangs (8-15, 1-3) 3-0 Tuesday at the Tascosa Activity Center after their first district loss there Saturday. Sophomore outside hitter Thea Munch-Soegaard led Tascosa with 21 kills.

Amarillo High (27-3, 3-0) also swept their match on the road at Odessa Permian. The win extends their district winning streak to 42 matches.

Amarillo High, Tascosa roll in District 2-5A play

The Lady Sandies (25-3, 2-0) and Lady Rebels (10-6, 2-0) both swept their teams Tuesday and finished their matches in less than an hour.

AHS disposed of Lubbock Monterey (9-15, 0-2) 25-3, 25-16, 25-16 and THS beat Odessa Permian (9-13, 0-2) on the road 25-16, 25-11, 25-15.

Results for District 3-4A teams in nondistrict play
Canyon (15-3) beat Frenship on the road, while Hereford (22-4) defeated Dalhart (14-8). Randall didn't play.

Amarillo High volleyball back at home for first time in nearly a month

The Lady Sandies (24-3) host Lubbock Monterey at 7 p.m. tonight, marking their first home match of the season.

AHS previously hosted a scrimmage against Dumas on Aug. 8 at the AHS Activity Center, and the last time the Lady Sandies played in Amarillo was a quad match at Tascosa's Activities Center.

The match with Monterey (9-14) is obviously the first District 2-5A home match for AHS, too. Amarillo High is looking to extend its district winning streak to 40 matches, dating to the 2005 season.

Amarillo High loses again; Randall keeps rolling

The Lady Sandies (21-3) dropped their third match of the season Friday in the Nike Pearland Classic, this time to Katy Cinco Ranch in straight games.

Amarillo High Coach Jan Barker said the team beat itself, committing double-digit unforced errors in both 25-23, 25-17 losses.
..............................

Randall Coach Jason Culpepper wasn't sure if we wanted his scores from the Frenship Tournament because they weren't very exciting.

The Lady Raiders (17-1) beat El Paso Socorro 25-7, 25-7 and Plainview 25-13, 25-7. They just keep looking better and better, and are the easy pre-district favorite to win 3-4A and probably represent the Panhandle in the UIL state tournament.

Amarillo High volleyball wins in Pearland; other local teams begin tourneys today

The Lady Sandies won three tournament matches Thursday at the Nike Pearland Classic, bringing them to 20-2 (1-0 District 2-5A) on the season and moving them to today's gold bracket.

Most of the other area teams -- other than Tascosa, who took the weekend off -- will play in various tournaments starting today. In town, San Jacinto Christian Academy hosts a 16-team tournament that includes River Road, Fort Elliott and Ascension Academy, among others.

District 2-5A high school volleyball begins Tuesday

School started today, but it's already time for Amarillo High and Tascosa to begin playing District 2-5A matches against their eight opponents from Lubbock, Midland, Odessa and San Angelo.

The Lady Rebels (8-6) begin the home action today, hosting Lubbock High (7-6) at 7 p.m., while the three-time defending Class 5A champion Lady Sandies (16-2) travel to Lubbock Coronado (5-10) to begin their long district schedule.