PREVIEWS: Crossroads prep volleyball team in UIL playoffs

CLASS 4A

Victoria West

• NEXT MATCH: vs. Uvalde, at Northside ISD in San Antonio, 7 p.m. Tuesday

NOTES: The Lobos (20-21) earned the pleasure of facing the No. 9 team in the Texas Girls Coaches Association poll with their five-set loss to Medina Valley Friday night. Victoria West (33-6) has made the regional tournament each of the last two years. The Warriors are led by seniors Kelsea Kalich, 473 kills, and Deane Gallup, 291 kills, and middle blocker Rachel Hamon, 203 kills. Defensively, junior Michelle Rendon and senior setter Blair Butschek helped the Warriors sweep through 30-4A play for a third straight year.

Victoria East

• NEXT MATCH: vs. FloresvilleCuero, 6 p.m. Tuesday

• NOTES: Victoria East (20-14, 6-6) limped toward the finish of the regular season, losing four out of its last five games in district play. However, they still have Morgan Lienemann, and the senior outside hitter has had many big games against the Jaguars in her career. Floresville (24-17) swept through District 29-4A play undefeated. However, this is a program Victoria East is used to facing - and defeating. When the two schools were district foes in the 2010 and 2011 seasons, the Titans won all four matches.

Calhoun

• NEXT MATCH: vs. San Antonio Harlandale in La Vernia, 7 p.m. Tuesday

NOTES: The Sandies are in the playoffs for a second straight season, despite losing a playoff for the second seed in District 30-4A play Friday night. Last year, Virginia Parsons' team advanced to the regional round before falling to Victoria West in three games. The Sandies are more experienced this year, and have more hitters in senior middle blocker Melina Ortiz, 351 kills, 105 blocks, and Meagan Tschatschula, 254 kills.

CLASS 3A

Yoakum

• NEXT MATCH: vs. Sealy, in Schulenburg, 8 p.m. Tuesday

• NOTES: Winners of seven of its last nine matches, Yoakum (20-15) enters the playoffs with momentum. Offensively, it's senior Lesley Seidenberger who leads the Lady Bulldogs with 407 kills. Jacarri Hights and Danielle Pohl have been one of the best blocking tandems in the area, combining for 198 blocks in 35 matches this year.

CLASS 2A

Goliad

• NEXT MATCH: vs. Universal City Randolph, in Nixon-Smiley, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday

• NOTES: The Tigerettes have several important weapons, including junior setter Ashtin Zamzow, who made the Advocate's all-area team as an honorable mention. Senior middle blocker Avery Zamzow and outside hitter Mallory Bruns have established themselves as forces up front. Natalie Nowland and Storie Maurial lead Universal City Randolph offensively with 185 and 171 kills, respectively. Nowland has 396 digs while Maurial added 264 to finish second on the team. Kelcie McKinley was Randolph's top distributor with 367 assists while Brooke Doherty led the team with 53 blocks.

Hallettsville

• NEXT MATCH: vs. Blanco, in Luling, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday

• NOTES: Defensively, Morgan Mitchon has been important for the Lady Brahmas. Mitchon came into the weekend with 426 digs while Cassidy Targac is in the area's top 10 with 332 kills. Madison Schindler leads the team with 482 assists. Reagan Rogers is Blanco's top offensive threat with 258 kills, leads the team with 71 aces and is second on the team with 208 digs. Leslie McClinton has a team-best 71 solo blocks and 316 digs.

CLASS 1A

Ganado

• NEXT MATCH: vs. Burton in Schulenburg, 6 p.m. Tuesday

• NOTES: Louise transfer Lauren Hlavaty has made a difference in the Maidens offense this season. The senior leads the team with 203 kills while Ashley Bridges is also among the area leaders with 443 assists. Taylor Mirelez leads the team with 49 aces.

Weimar

• NEXT MATCH: vs. Somerville, Tuesday, TBA

• NOTES: The Lady Cats split the District 26-1A title with the Shiner Lady Comanches, but have to play in the bidistrict round after being swept in the tiebreaker. Kristie Guerrero and McKenna Munsch provide the offensive presence for the Lady Cats while Madison Vacek is among Weimar's top defensive players.

OTHER PLAYOFF TEAMS

• RICE CONSOLIDATED vs. Winnie East Chambers, at Pearland High, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday

• WOODSBORO vs. Tilden McMullin County in Beeville, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday

• KENEDY at Charlotte, 7 p.m. Tuesday

TEAMS WITH BYES

• CLASS 2A: Schulenburg (plays East Chambers-Rice Consolidated winner); Edna (plays Taft-Riviera winner); East Bernard (plays Blanco-Hallettsville winner)

• CLASS 1A: Yorktown (plays London-Santa Maria winner); Shiner (plays Leakey-La Pryor winner)

ALL-AREA NOMINATIONS: Coaches are asked to submit nominations to the all-area volleyball team via email to sports@vicad.com or by fax to 361-574-1220. Please include for each nominee a position, year and statistics. Only coaches may nominate players