Alex Janak, setter from last year’s 16 Mizuno Ray team, won Player of the Week honors from Prepvolleyball.com for all of Texas. Way to go Alex! Read the article below.
Texas Top 20 – Week 5
Written by Scott White
Tuesday, 10 September 2013
Another week. More confusion. Here’s this week’s attempt at identifying the 20 top teams from the Lone Star State.
Maddie Jones and the Colleyville Heritage defense was at its best last week, shutting down two Top 20 teams.
What can be said that hasn’t already been said? Just when we thought we had some teams figured out . . . poof!
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alex Janak – Colleyville Heritage
There were some outstanding performances over the past week. Kingwood senior Devyn Johnson set the school record for assists in a single match with 62 against Klein Oak while Abby Buckingham had 43 kills in wins over Judson and Incarnate Word. But this week’s honor goes to Janak. The junior setter continued to dominate, dishing out 85 assists in two huge Top 20 wins over Richardson Pearce and McKinney Boyd.
Honorable Mention
Abby Buckingham, Churchill
Ali Doucet, Fredericksburg
Devyn Johnson, Kingwood
Kylie Long, Plano
Past Winners
(Most recent listed first)
Cat McCoy, Southlake Carroll
Mary-Kate Marshall, Coppell
Courtney Eckenrode, The Woodlands
Last week saw nine of our Top 20 teams fall, including four in the Top 10.
To be fair, two of the losses came in Top 10 showdowns.
Losers last week on the court and this week in the rankings were: Round Rock, Reagan, Clear Falls, McKinney Boyd, Allen, Richardson Pearce, Westlake, Highland Park and Flower Mound.
Clear Falls, Boyd and one of Allen’s and Pearce’s losses can be partially excused. They came against higher ranked teams.
But the others? Shame. Shame. Shame.
I don’t remember a recent year that, this deep into the season, was still so unsettled.
But that doesn’t stop of us from plowing ahead and trying to figure things out.
So, anticipating yet more of the same, here is this week’s ranking of the 20 “best” teams in the state.
Texas Top 20
Rank. Team (Record) Last Week
1. The Woodlands Highlanders (24-0) 1
Only one match last week, but it was a big one with a dominating sweep of Clear Falls behind the play of Madison McDaniel, Kelly Quinn and Courtney Eckenrode
2. Southlake Carroll Dragons (24-1) 2
Like The Woodlands, only one match and it was a blitz of Plano East behind the play of Cat McCoy, Maddie Drescher, Timarie Nymeyer and Katie Martin.
3. Churchill Chargers (27-1) 3
The Chargers rolled on with solid sweeps of Judson and Incarnate Word allowing over 19 points in only one set. Abby Buckingham had a huge week with 43 kills as well as 15 digs and four aces.
4. Colleyville Heritage Panthers (22-5) 4
Very impressive week for Heritage as the Panthers knocked off two Top 20 teams, starting with a sweep of Pearce and a four-setter over Boyd.
5. Coppell Cowgirls (25-2) 5
Cowgirls rebound from disappointing finishing at Arlington tournament with dominating sweeps of Lake Highlands and Allen.
6. Clear Falls Knights (19-5) 8
After opening the week with a blitz of Dulles, the Knights had a chance to make a huge statement against top-ranked The Woodlands. It wasn’t to be, however, as The Woodlands won in a sweep.
7. McKinney Boyd Broncos (20-3) 9
The Bronocs started strong, with a dominating performance against Lewisville. But, in a Top 10 showdown, came up short against Heritage for the second week in a row.
8. Frisco Centennial Titans (20-6) 10
Good solid week for the Titans with four-set wins over good Rowlett and Byron Nelson teams.
9. Bishop Lynch Friars (15-7) 13
Only one match for the Friars last week and that was a four-set win over Prince of Peace, a team that — despite its name — is dangerous as some very good opponents have discovered this season.
10. A&M Consolidated Tigers (22-6) 12
Ashlynn Ford had a big week with 25 kills as the Tigers had not trouble putting away Round Top-Carmine and Bush.
11. Waxahachie Indians (23-4) 15
Very easy week for the Indians, who swept away Timberview and Midlothian and allowed 20 in only one set.
12. Hebron Hawks (17-5) 18
Word of warning. WATCH OUT FOR HEBRON! The Hawks were VERY impressive in sweeping Arlington Martin and Arlington 25-13 22-25 27-25 25-15
13. Round Rock Dragons (21-7) 6
Disappointing finish to the week for the Dragons, who started with a nice win over Georgetown then were shocked by Vista Ridge in four.
14. Reagan Rattlers (22-5) 7
Rattlers continued their up-and-down season, opening the week with a loss to Alamo Heights then rebounding to sweep Kerrville Tivy.
15. Frisco Racoons (21-4) 20
Only one match and it was a very solid sweep of Lake Ridge.
16. Lovejoy Leopards (19-10) NR
Look who’s back in the Top 20. Rapidly improving young team was very impressive with Top 20 wins over Allen and Pearce.
17. Cedar Park Timberwolves (26-3) NR
Five-set win over then # 16 Westlake is worth a spot in the Top 20.
18. Allen Eagles (17-10) 11
The eagles had a chance to make a huge statement but stumbled instead, falling to Lovejoy and Coppell.
19. Richardson Pearce Mustangs (20-9) 14
Tough week for the Mustangs, who started by being swept by Heritage then fell to Lovejoy in four.
20. Alamo Heights Mules (19-7) NR
Impressive win over Reagan vaults the Mules into the Top 20.
