Dragon Volleyball Starts Off Strong As Tournament Champs
Results from the week of August 7
Varsity Volleyball Cooper Is Tournament Champ; O’Neal Is Tournament MVP
8/11-12 at Spike Down Classic Tournament, Brook Hill School, Bullard, TX
The Spike Down Classic is a competitive 40-team tournament that included three state champions from different divisions of TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools), four state runner ups, six quarter finalists, 10 regional finalist teams, and seven area finalists.
From Coach Ray Hedden: The Spike Down tournament was a very competitive tournament for us to open the season with.
Opening Pool Play
vs. Trinity Christian, Lubbock • 25-16, 23-25
vs. Bethesda Christian School, Fort Worth • 25-7, 25-10
vs. The Brook Hill School, Bullard • 25-11, 25-8
vs. St. Dominic Savio Catholic, Austin • 25-19, 25-12
From Coach Ray Hedden: We started playing four-time defending 4A state champs, Trinity Christian, who had not lost a match to a private school in four years. It was a great battle to open the tournament with; we won the match handing them their first loss. Moving on through the rest of pool play we did not drop a set, earning a spot in the 16-team gold bracket.
Gold Bracket Play (16 teams)
vs. Round Rock Christian WIN
(3A state runner up)
vs. Grapevine WIN
From Coach Ray Hedden: Round one put us against Round Rock, the 3A state runner up. After a dominating first set we pulled out a tight second set to move to quarter finals. Our next match was against Grapevine who until then had not dropped a set. We battled with their hitters but ultimately won with our defense and ball control to sweep Grapevine.
Semi-Finals
vs. Prestonwood WIN
From Coach Ray Hedden: Moving into the semi-finals, we were set to play Prestonwood who had a towering front row that could absolutely destroy the ball when given the opportunity. We were once again up for the challenge with our defense and hitting on point. Prestonwood took us three sets but ultimately we came out on top and advanced to the championship.
Finals
vs. Austin Hyde Park WIN for first place!
8/11-12 at Spike Down Classic Tournament, Brook Hill School, Bullard, TX
The Spike Down Classic is a competitive 40-team tournament that included three state champions from different divisions of TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools), four state runner ups, six quarter finalists, 10 regional finalist teams, and seven area finalists.
From Coach Ray Hedden: The Spike Down tournament was a very competitive tournament for us to open the season with.
Opening Pool Play
vs. Trinity Christian, Lubbock • 25-16, 23-25
vs. Bethesda Christian School, Fort Worth • 25-7, 25-10
vs. The Brook Hill School, Bullard • 25-11, 25-8
vs. St. Dominic Savio Catholic, Austin • 25-19, 25-12
From Coach Ray Hedden: We started playing four-time defending 4A state champs, Trinity Christian, who had not lost a match to a private school in four years. It was a great battle to open the tournament with; we won the match handing them their first loss. Moving on through the rest of pool play we did not drop a set, earning a spot in the 16-team gold bracket.
Gold Bracket Play (16 teams)
vs. Round Rock Christian WIN
(3A state runner up)
vs. Grapevine WIN
From Coach Ray Hedden: Round one put us against Round Rock, the 3A state runner up. After a dominating first set we pulled out a tight second set to move to quarter finals. Our next match was against Grapevine who until then had not dropped a set. We battled with their hitters but ultimately won with our defense and ball control to sweep Grapevine.
Semi-Finals
vs. Prestonwood WIN
From Coach Ray Hedden: Moving into the semi-finals, we were set to play Prestonwood who had a towering front row that could absolutely destroy the ball when given the opportunity. We were once again up for the challenge with our defense and hitting on point. Prestonwood took us three sets but ultimately we came out on top and advanced to the championship.
Finals
vs. Austin Hyde Park WIN for first place!
From Coach Ray Hedden: The finals were set with Hyde Park who started an all-senior lineup with a very good defense. The match went back in forth, with Cooper taking the first set. They came back and took the second set in dominating fashion. Cooper rallied once again to take the third set in our own dominating fashion. Starting the year, 8-0, is a great
way to walk into our first full week of practice. I have a high expectation to keep improving and moving forward.
Tournament Standouts:
Kara O’Neal (senior)was named tournament MVP and led the way with a high-powered arm swing, that teams tried to scheme against but failed to slow her down.
Anna Claire Adam (sophomore) was named All-Tournament, playing great defense and winning with her arm swing as well. Her serving put us in great situations the whole tournament
Abby Frazier (junior) was phenomenal with her ability to set the team up for success by keeping the defense guessing and delivering great tempo sets to our hitters!
Hannah Gooch (senior) did a very good job with her passing allowing us to keep out offense running.
Mia Salerno (senior) had some key swings in big moments along with crucial blocks.
Other great performances came from junior Lisa Alexander with some great digs, junior Peyton Tague with great serves and mixing in some shots and sophomore Emilie Albers, whose blocks kept the other team’s hitters at bay.
way to walk into our first full week of practice. I have a high expectation to keep improving and moving forward.
Tournament Standouts:
Kara O’Neal (senior)was named tournament MVP and led the way with a high-powered arm swing, that teams tried to scheme against but failed to slow her down.
Anna Claire Adam (sophomore) was named All-Tournament, playing great defense and winning with her arm swing as well. Her serving put us in great situations the whole tournament
Abby Frazier (junior) was phenomenal with her ability to set the team up for success by keeping the defense guessing and delivering great tempo sets to our hitters!
Hannah Gooch (senior) did a very good job with her passing allowing us to keep out offense running.
Mia Salerno (senior) had some key swings in big moments along with crucial blocks.
Other great performances came from junior Lisa Alexander with some great digs, junior Peyton Tague with great serves and mixing in some shots and sophomore Emilie Albers, whose blocks kept the other team’s hitters at bay.
Next up for Dragon Volleyball:
Aug. 15 vs. Lutheran South, 6 p.m. FIRST HOME GAME
Aug. 16 scrimmage, 7 p.m.
Aug. 17 vs. Covenant Christian School, 6 p.m.
Varsity Cross Country
Next up for Dragon Cross Country:
Aug 25 Friday Night Lights at Bear Branch Sports Park, 5 p.m.
Aug 25 Friday Night Lights at Bear Branch Sports Park, 5 p.m.
Varsity Football
Next up for Dragon Football:
August 18 scrimmage at Fort Bend Christian Academy, 7 p.m.
UPCOMING VARSITY SPORTS ACTION AT HOME:
Tuesday, August 15
6 p.m. Varsity Volleyball vs. Lutheran South
Wednesday, August 16
7 p.m. Varsity Volleyball intersquad scrimmage
Thursday, August 17
6 p.m. Varsity Volleyball vs. Covenant Christian School
–8/13/17
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From Curiosity to Wisdom
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