Cooper Volleyball Opens Season With Tournament Championship
Dragons are TAPPS 2017 Spike Down Classic Champs; O'Neal is Tournament MVP
The John Cooper School varsity volleyball team went undefeated to take first place in the first tournament of the season, the TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) 2017 Spike Down Classic, at Brook Hill School in Bullard, TX on August 10 and 11. Senior Kara O’Neal was named Tournament MVP and sophomore teammate Anna Claire Adam was named All-Tournament.
“This tournament was a very competitive tournament to open the season,” said Coach Ray Hedden. He added that the 40-team tournament included three state champions from different divisions of TAPPS, four state runner-ups, six quarter finalists, 10 regional finalist teams and seven area finalists.
The Dragons faced an intimidating opponent in Lubbock’s Trinity Christian to start the tournament. “We started playing four-time defending 5A state champs, Trinity Christian, who had not lost a match to a private school in four years,” said Hedden. “It was a great battle to open the tournament. 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.”
The Gold Bracket set the Dragons up with 3A state runner-up, Round Rock Christian, followed by an undefeated Grapevine.
“After a dominating first set, we pulled out a tight second set to move to the quarterfinals. Our next match was against Grapevine who, until then, had not dropped a set,” Hedden said. “We battled with their hitters but ultimately swept Grapevine with our defense and ball control.”
In the semifinals, the Dragons met Prestonwood. “Prestonwood had a towering front row that could absolutely destroy the ball when given the opportunity,” Hedden said. “We were once again up for the challenge and moved on to the championship game.”
Hyde Park started an all-senior lineup. The match went back and forth, with Cooper taking the first set. They came back and took the second set, then Cooper rallied to take the third set.
“Starting the year 8-0 is a great way to walk into our first full week of practice,” Hedden said. “I have a high expectation to keep improving and moving forward.”
Hedden noted Kara O’Neal’s Tournament MVP honors and attributed it to her high-powered arm swing. “It’s a swing that teams tried to strategize against, but failed to slow her down. Sophomore Anna Claire Adam earned All Tournament honors, which he attributes to great defense and a fierce arm swing. “Her serving put us in great situations throughout the tournament.”
Hedden praised teammates junior Abby Frazier senior Hannah Gooch, senior Mia Salerno, junior Lisa Alexander, junior Peyton Tague and sophomore Emilie Albers for their efforts.
The Dragons face Lutheran South at home in the Dunlap Gymnasium on April 15 at 6 p.m. and Covenant Christian School at home on August 17 at 6 p.m.
–8/14/17
“This tournament was a very competitive tournament to open the season,” said Coach Ray Hedden. He added that the 40-team tournament included three state champions from different divisions of TAPPS, four state runner-ups, six quarter finalists, 10 regional finalist teams and seven area finalists.
The Dragons faced an intimidating opponent in Lubbock’s Trinity Christian to start the tournament. “We started playing four-time defending 5A state champs, Trinity Christian, who had not lost a match to a private school in four years,” said Hedden. “It was a great battle to open the tournament. 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.”
The Gold Bracket set the Dragons up with 3A state runner-up, Round Rock Christian, followed by an undefeated Grapevine.
“After a dominating first set, we pulled out a tight second set to move to the quarterfinals. Our next match was against Grapevine who, until then, had not dropped a set,” Hedden said. “We battled with their hitters but ultimately swept Grapevine with our defense and ball control.”
In the semifinals, the Dragons met Prestonwood. “Prestonwood had a towering front row that could absolutely destroy the ball when given the opportunity,” Hedden said. “We were once again up for the challenge and moved on to the championship game.”
Hyde Park started an all-senior lineup. The match went back and forth, with Cooper taking the first set. They came back and took the second set, then Cooper rallied to take the third set.
“Starting the year 8-0 is a great way to walk into our first full week of practice,” Hedden said. “I have a high expectation to keep improving and moving forward.”
Hedden noted Kara O’Neal’s Tournament MVP honors and attributed it to her high-powered arm swing. “It’s a swing that teams tried to strategize against, but failed to slow her down. Sophomore Anna Claire Adam earned All Tournament honors, which he attributes to great defense and a fierce arm swing. “Her serving put us in great situations throughout the tournament.”
Hedden praised teammates junior Abby Frazier senior Hannah Gooch, senior Mia Salerno, junior Lisa Alexander, junior Peyton Tague and sophomore Emilie Albers for their efforts.
The Dragons face Lutheran South at home in the Dunlap Gymnasium on April 15 at 6 p.m. and Covenant Christian School at home on August 17 at 6 p.m.
–8/14/17
The John Cooper School
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The John Cooper School is an independent, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory day school. Our mission is to provide a challenging education in a caring environment to a diverse group of select students, enabling them to become critical and creative thinkers, effective communicators, responsible citizens and leaders, and lifelong learners.
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The John Cooper School seeks to attract qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds to its faculty, staff, and student body. The School does not discriminate against any individual in admissions, educational programs, personnel policies, general practices, or employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, or age.
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