Lady Highlanders, TWCP, OR, Cooper sweep foes

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - The No. 1 state-ranked The Woodlands Lady Highlanders volleyball team proved to be rude hosts in front of a raucous crowd, sweeping the outgunned Lady Cougars from Tomball, 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-12) to up their undefeated season record to 22-0.

Leading 4-2 in the first game, a Madison McDaniel slam off of a Lexi Schnakenburg assist followed by a dual Schnakenburg/Rachel Reed block and another McDaniel slam broke things open for the home team.

The closest Tomball (11-9) could get the rest of the first stanza was five points. Schnakenburg would team up with Morgan Eason for another two blocks along the way as Rachel Reed put a stamp on the first game with an ace for the 25th point.

Game 2 was a bit more exciting as the Lady Cougars showed signs of their 2012 District 22-4A championship team giving The Woodlands all they could handle. Outside Hitter, Hope Forsythe had five kills alone and Tomball had their first lead of the match, 9-8.

The Lady Highlanders were not to be outdone breaking up a close game at 14-14 as Courtney Quinn surprised the Lady Cougars with a precision dump and the The Woodlands cruised to a 25-18 second-period romp culminating with another McDaniel slam off of a picture perfect assist from Louisiana-Lafayette commit, Maddie White.

The third period started off with an Eason dump but it was the Rachel Reed show the rest of the way as she slammed and served balls all over the other side of the court. Reed ended things with a picturesque unreturnable serve adding to her match-high ace total of six.

Madison McDaniel led all with 12 kills followed by Rachel Reed and Courtney Quinn with seven each. Courtney Eckenrode led the gym in assists with 29. The Quinn sisters, Courtney and Kelly, had 11 and 10 digs respectively, while Morgan Eason had three blocks.

The sub-varsity teams led by coaches Megan McDougald, Karen Kloster Lucas and Paula Miller remained perfect as well as both frosh teams and the JV have yet to lose a match.

The large crowd included several members of the Highlanders football team which plays Saturday night in Georgetown against Dallas-Skyline. Also in attendance making their presence known by leading cheers were the Gorilla (Aramis Guerra) and Banana (Highlander lacrosse goalie, Hayden Stanifer).

The Woodlands next plays on Friday, Sept. 6 at Clear Falls.

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Cooper advances in Kingwood Tournament

The John Cooper School volleyball team advances Saturday to the Kingwood Tournament Gold Bracket quarterfinals after outlasting Memorial 27-25, 30-29 and Friendswood 23-25, 26-24, 25-23. The Lady Dragons also swept Conroe 25-18, 25-17, 25-17 on the road Friday in a non-tournament match. Margeret Connett led the way at the net with 19 kills.

"I am so very proud of the girls and our team, said Cooper coach Jim "Smoki" Richardson. "They have really started to pull together and they are holding their own, taking on some big public schools."

College Park sweeps Clements

Emily Thorson recorded 14 kills as the College Park High School volleyball team rolled to a 25-12, 25-10, 25-14 victory at home Tuesday over Clements. The Lady Cavaliers improved to 11-6.

Oak Ridge wins 3-0 over Caney Creek

The Oak Ridge High School volleyball team breezed to a 25-20, 25-10, 25-9 victory Tuesday on the road.