HS Volleyball: District 13-6A Week Eight Recap

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- There were some shifts in the standings following a tense week of volleyball action in 13-6A. The top team in the district has remained atop their perch since the season opened, but beneath them were come major shifts with playoff implications.

The Woodlands vs. Cleveland

10/10/23

The Lady Highlanders kickstarted their week with a defeat of the Lady Indians in a match that was never close.

Cleveland opened the match with a set that saw no traction on their part. The Lady Indians only mustered three points against the Woodlands’ 25, providing the tone for the rest of the match. The Lady Highlanders never gave up double-digit points in any set, only allowing eight points in the closing set, which they still took handily.

The three-set sweep situated the Lady Highlanders in a prime spot to take second place in the district from the rival Lady Cavaliers.

Oak Ridge vs. Grand Oaks

10/10/23

Looking to continue their unbeaten streak in the district, the Lady Grizzlies entered hostile territory against the Oak Ridge Lady War Eagles on Tuesday.

The outside hitting from players Halle Thompson and Samara Coleman propelled Grand Oaks’ offense in the opening sets. Some adjustments from the veteran players on the floor allowed Grand Oaks to take the first two sets with relative ease. With their backs against the wall, Oak Ridge opened the third set with a furious attack that saw them hold a lead midway through the set. With the streak in jeopardy, the Lady Grizzlies rallied late and established distance after claiming the lead, ultimately winning in straight sets.

The win continues Grand Oaks’ perfect record in the district while also maintaining zero sets lost.

Willis vs. College Park

10/10/23

In their bid to stay in second place in the district, the Lady Cavaliers traveled to face the scrappy Willis Ladykats on their home court.

The Ladykats are equally pushing for a playoff spot, with wins being a necessity if they hope to claim the fourth spot.

Willis opened with a strong demonstration of their capabilities in a set that pushed College Park on their heels. The Lady Cavaliers only managed to come away with a five-point win, but College Park would stay in control in the second set. Team defense enabled the Lady Cavs to keep volleys alive, which wore out the Willis team. An eight-point victory in the second set positioned College Park in a spot where they could comfortably win in straight sets. Knowing what was at stake, the Ladykats put up their best effort of the match, staying within striking distance throughout the set. College Park only came away with a 25-21 win in the third set, leaving some concerns that needed to be addressed ahead of the important match against the rival Woodlands.

New Caney vs. Conroe

10/10/23

In the Lady Tigers’ only match of the week, they hit the road to play New Caney and the Lady Eagles.

Conroe began with a total team effort that limited opportunities for the Lady Eagles while simultaneously cashing in easy points. A 17-point lead was the reward for Conroe’s concerted effort, and the team took it for an easy win in the opening set. New Caney attempted to make pushes in the second and third sets with mild success. The margins of victory were smaller towards the end of the match, but the effort from the Lady Eagles fell just short. Conroe ended the match with a straight-set victory, positioning themselves within reach of a playoff spot if things go their way.

College Park vs. The Woodlands

10/13/23

In the most important matchup of the week, the Lady Cavaliers hosted the Lady Highlanders in a matchup for second place.

After trading points back and forth in the opening set, College Park snuck out a victory by only two points, proving how tough the win would be for either team. The Lady Highlanders rebounded in a major way after dropping the opening set, taking the second set in the most lopsided win of the match, winning 25-19. Both teams continued to fight in scrappy sets that came down to the wire. In the third and fourth sets, the Lady Highlanders found momentum in the late stages, which allowed them to clutch out wins when they mattered most. The Woodlands took home the most important match of the season to this point with a 3-1 victory.

The win situates the Lady Highlanders ahead of College Park at the moment, with the Lady Cavaliers a full game behind them at the time of writing.

Caney Creek vs. Willis

10/13/23

Looking to rebound after their loss to College Park earlier in the week, Willis traveled to Caney Creek.

Willis took control of the match in the first set with a 25-12 win, which continued to demonstrate the capabilities of the Ladykats. Caney Creek did keep up a consistent fight in the second and third sets by staying on the offensive end. However, their offense could not keep up with the production from Willis, who stayed out of reach as the games came to a close. The Ladykats took home a straight-set victory, which set the team up in fifth place in the district standings.

Grand Oaks vs. New Caney

10/13/23

The New Caney Lady Eagles hit the road to face the hottest team in the district with the hopes of being the first team to claim a set against the Lady Grizzlies.

New Caney’s hopes were shot down by the vaunted Grand Oaks squad that had the benefit of their home crowd behind them. The Lady Grizzlies rode a positive buzz to back-to-back 25-11 wins in the first and second sets, putting pressure on the Lady Eagles. The pressure manifested in the weakest effort the Lady Eagles had posted the entire match, only scoring five points in the closing set. Grand Oaks notched another victory in straight sets, continuing their march to the state playoffs.

Cleveland vs. Oak Ridge

10/13/23

Cleveland hosted the fourth-place Oak Ridge Lady War Eagles, still looking for their first win in the district.

Scores are inconclusive from our sources, but the Oak Ridge Lady War Eagles claimed a 3-0 victory in straight sets. The Lady Indians dropped their 12th straight match of the season, with the Lady War Eagles also solidifying their spot at number four in the district.