UIL Volleyball Playoffs: Robstown makes history with area-round victory

Len Hayward, Corpus Christi Caller Times
·3 min read

The Robstown girls sports program continues to put together unprecedented postseason runs.

The Cotton Pickers girls basketball team won the program's first playoff game in 2021 and then advanced to the regional semifinals for the first time.

Now, the volleyball program can be added to the list of teams reaching milestones. With Thursday's three-set victory against San Antonio Young Women's Leadership Academy, Robstown advanced to the regional quarterfinals for the first time in program history.

In fact, the program has three postseason victories since 1985 and two of them have come during the 2021 season. Robstown's first postseason victory was a five-set bi-district victory against Hidalgo in the 2020 playoffs, and in 2021 they won a three-set match against District 32-4A champion Rio Hondo and Thursday's victory.

And just to get into the playoffs in 2021, the Cotton Pickers needed to win an extra game. They defeated Kingsville in a fourth-place playoff before the postseason started and now are three rounds deep.

The Cotton Pickers advance to take on District 31-4A champion and rival Tuloso-Midway with another shot at continuing a historic season. The Cherokees swept the Cotton Pickers in their two matches this season.

Robstown volleyball players celebrate during a match in 2020 against Calallen. The Cotton Pickers advanced to regional quarterfinals for the first time this season.
Robstown volleyball players celebrate during a match in 2020 against Calallen. The Cotton Pickers advanced to regional quarterfinals for the first time this season.

LOOKING BACK AT THE AREA ROUND

CLASS 5A

Gregory-Portland def. McAllen Rowe, 25-11, 25-16, 25-22: The Wildcats return to the regional quarterfinals for the first time since 2019 after a sweep of McAllen Rowe. Sydney Kuzma totaled 18 kills, 11 digs and three blocks in the victory. Taylor Borden added 16 digs and Canyen Rodriguez had 32 assists. The Wildcats will take on McAllen Memorial in the regional quarterfinals.

Flour Bluff def. McAllen, 25-18, 22-25, 25-27, 25-22, 15-11: The Hornets (33-5) return to the regional quarterfinals after a thrilling win on Friday. Maggie Croft had 26 kills to lead the Hornets attack and Katy Geurin added 19. Mikaela Palmer added 28 digs and Lauren Fuller had 23. The Hornets advance to take on Sharyland Pioneer in the regional quarterfinals.

CLASS 4A

Wimberley def. Sinton, 25-14, 25-12, 25-11: The defending Region IV champs swept Sinton out of the playoffs with a three-set victory. Annie Kay had seven kills, and Sydney Mutchler added seven digs in the loss.

Tuloso-Midway def. San Antonio Fox Tech, 25-11, 25-11, 25-13: The Cherokees earned another area round victory after a sweep of Fox Tech. Nyomi Gonzales led the offensive attack with 13 kills and Madi Moore and Clarissa Soza each added 11. Soza also had 21 digs and Abby Kennedy added 28. The Cherokees will take on district rival Robstown in the regional quarterfinals.

Calallen def. Hondo, 23-25, 25-19, 25-20, 21-25, 21-19: Raegan Tennill had 19 kills and 23 assists as the Wildcats advanced to the regional quarterfinals for the second straight season after a five-set thriller. Tori Stratmann added 11 kills, Carrigan Valdez had 31 assists and Monique Gonzalez had 38 digs. Molly Appleby added seven blocks.

CLASS 3A

London def. Mission IDEA North, 25-11, 25-12, 25-8: The Pirates rolled to the regional quarterfinals by sweeping IDEA North. Ellayna McNorton dished out 32 assists as Brooke Busenlehner had nine kills, Rachel Graff eight and Alysse Gonzalez 7. The Pirates will take on District 29-3A's Skidmore-Tynan in the regional quarterfinals.

Bishop def. Lyford, 25-13, 25-14, 25-12: Bella Borchardt totaled 13 kills and had five digs as the Badgers moved on to the regional quarterfinals. Jaydee Zamora had 27 assists and three aces. The Badgers will take on regional power Goliad in the regional quarterfinals in Pleasanton on Tuesday.

Skidmore-Tynan def. Progreso, 25-5, 25-9, 25-12: The Bobcats moved easily into the regional quarterfinals with a sweep of Progreso. Mari Gonzales had 10 kills, along with five digs and two blocks. Skidmore-Tynan will now take on area power London in the regional quarters.

High School Volleyball: UIL Volleyball playoffs: London rebounds from 1st set loss to top Orange Grove

Len Hayward is a USA Today Sports Network Region sports director and the Caller-Times sports editor. Support more coverage like this by checking out our subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: UIL Volleyball Playoffs: Robstown makes history with area round win