High school volleyball roundup: Thrillers and domination across the area

It was an action-packed night on the high school volleyball courts Tuesday as teams battled for district positioning and bragging rights. From five-set thrillers to commanding sweeps, the Lady Eagles, Lady Raiders, and Lady Sandies all left their mark in the standings.

Canyon Edges West Plains in Five-Set Thriller

The Lady Eagles showed resilience and heart Tuesday night, defending their home court with a thrilling 18-16 fifth-set victory over district rival West Plains. Canyon overcame a rocky start, dropping the first set 22-25 to the Lady Wolves, before rallying to win the next two sets 25-20, 25-20. West Plains forced a deciding fifth set by taking the fourth 25-21, but Canyon held strong to capture the win.

The victory moves Canyon (15-14, 5-2 in district) into a second-place tie with West Plains (23-11, 5-2).

Laney Jones returned to the lineup with an immediate impact, leading the Lady Eagles with 14 kills and providing a clutch presence at the net. Neelie Henson added 10 kills, while Maddie Haugen anchored the middle with six blocks and two aces. Brylee McElroy controlled the offense with 27 assists, and Aiva Kerr led the defensive charge with 20 digs and two aces.

West Plains had strong performances as well, led by Aaniyah Kitchen’s game-high 20 kills and Kynzie Ward’s 16. Cecilia Murillo racked up 40 assists, and Idaly Sotelo contributed 33 digs, but it wasn’t enough to stop Canyon in the end.

Randall Survives Hereford Test in Five Sets

Over in District 4-4A, the Lady Raiders had to battle to fend off a determined Hereford team, eventually escaping with a 24-26, 29-27, 20-25, 25-6, 15-9 victory at home. Randall improves to 21-12 overall and an unbeaten 7-0 in district play. Hereford falls to 15-15 overall and 3-4 in district.

Randall’s balanced attack shone through, with multiple players posting double-doubles. Nevaeh Conner slammed down 16 kills with 28 digs and added three aces, while freshman Chloe Brown contributed 21 kills and 19 digs. Setter Benett Moore orchestrated the offense with 28 assists and 12 digs.

Hereford had standout contributions as well, with Lilly Madrigal recording a double-double with 22 digs and 16 assists, along with seven kills.

Amarillo High Continues District Domination

In District 3-5A, Amarillo High proved why they are the team to beat, sweeping Lubbock Coronado 25-10, 25-19, 25-17 at home. The Lady Sandies (24-8, 10-0 in district) have now won an incredible 61 straight district matches dating back to 2020, remaining atop the standings without challenge. Coronado (19-15, 7-3) remains in third place.

Sophomore Harper Vaughn led Amarillo with a double-double, posting 12 kills and 13 assists. Bennett Rea added 20 assists, and Kinsler Hanson contributed 10 kills. Coronado’s Addison Brown led her team defensively with 11 digs.

Tascosa also kept pace in district play, defeating Caprock in a dominant sweep, 25-8, 25-5, 25-12. The Lady Rebels move to 22-9 overall and 9-1 in district, just a game behind Amarillo High. Avery Scalf led Tascosa with nine kills, Gabbie Mason added eight, and Addison Merrell orchestrated the offense with 22 assists. Caprock drops to 13-14 overall and 2-8 in district play.

Tuesday’s slate of matches highlighted the intensity and talent across the districts. Canyon and West Plains proved their rivalry is one for the ages, Randall continues to show they can survive tight contests, and Amarillo High remains a powerhouse in 3-5A. The district races are heating up, and with several teams posting big wins and standout performances, the push toward the playoffs is shaping up to be unforgettable.