Bi-District, Area Rounds Take Toll on Local Volleyball Teams

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

 EAST TEXAS – The 2018 UIL volleyball playoffs opened this past week and many local teams had high expectations of a deep postseason run. Unfortunately, the Bi-District and Area rounds of the playoffs took its toll on all but four area teams.

Stating in District 21-AA, the Neches Lady Tigers have had an outstanding season and technically laid claim to the 21-AA title. However, Neches moved to the Class A level for the playoffs and received a bye in the first round of postseason competition.

The Lady Tigers faced the High Island Cardinals on Friday, Nov. 2 in the Area Round but as of press time, the results were unavailable. The winner of the High Island/Neches matchup will advance to the Regional Quarterfinals where they will face the Oakwood Lady Panthers.

The official District 21-AA championship went to the Cayuga Lady Wildcats who took on the Normangee Lady Panthers on Monday. Cayuga defeated Normangee in three sets to move to the Area Round where they took on the Evadale Lady Rebels on Thursday, Nov. 1.

In the area round, the Lady Wildcats continued to roll as they defeated the Lady Rebels in three straight by scores of 25-9, 25-16 and 25-8. Cayuga will face the always tough Leon Lady Cougars in the Regional Quarterfinals on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

The Grapeland Sandiettes finished as the runners-up in District 21-AA and faced the Centerville Lady Tigers on Tuesday, Oct. 30. I was a close match throughout but the Sandiettes fell to the Lady Tigers in four by scores of 21-25, 25-21, 19-25 and 22-25. The win moved the Lady Tigers into the Area Round of the playoffs where they faced the West Hardin Lady Oilers on Nov. 1.

Centerville defeated West Hardin in three by scores of 25-17, 25-17 and 25-9. The win moves the Lady Tigers into the Regional Quarterfinals where they will face the Iola Lady Bulldogs on Tuesday. Iola has already defeated Centerville twice this year. The date, site and time have not been determined as of yet.

The Latexo Lady Tigers from District 21-AA and the Lovelady Lady Lions from District 22-AA did not qualify for postseason play.

Moving to District 23-AA, the Kennard Lady Tigers began their quest for glory on Tuesday, Oct. 30 against the Burkeville Lady Mustangs. Just like the Neches Lady Tigers, however, Kennard dropped down to Class A level where they defeated Burkeville by scores of 25-15, 25-19 and 25-13.

Kennard caught a break in the Area round as they received a bye which moved them into the Regional Quarterfinals. The Lady Tigers will play the Trinidad Lady Trojans but the date, site and time have yet to be determined.

Also in District 23-AA, the Groveton Lady Indians finished as the runners-up in district play. The Lady Indians, however, fell to the Deweyville Lady Pirates on Monday, Oct. 29 in the Bi-District round by scores of 10-25, 14-25 and 11-25.

At the Class AAA level, the Elkhart Lady Elks and the Westwood Lady Panthers qualified for the playoffs out of District 20-AAA, while the Crockett Lady Bulldogs from District 20-AAA and the Trinity Lady Tigers from District 23-AAA did not.

The Lady Elks fell in the Bi-District round on Monday, Oct. 29 to the Little River Academy Bumblebees in three games. The Lady Panthers also fell in the first round as the Lexington Lady Eagles knocked them out of the postseason by scores of 20-25, 19-25 and 16-25.

At the AAAA level, the Palestine Lady Wildcats qualified for the playoffs out of District 19-AAAA while the Madisonville Lady Mustangs did not. Unfortunately for the Lady Wildcats, they fell to the Carthage Lady Bulldogs in three games on Monday, Oct. 29 by scores of 19-25, 11-25 and 11-25.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].