Texas high school volleyball state championships: Everything you missed in 2023 UIL finals
The Texas high school volleyball season has reached championship Saturday and state champions have been crowned in every UIL classification
SBLive provided live coverage throughout the final day of the season at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas.
>>Texas high school volleyball playoffs: How to watch the 2023 UIL state championships
Nationally ranked Conroe Grand Oaks closed out the season with a 6A title win over Katy Cinco Ranch, Lucas Lovejoy toppled Liberty Hill for the 5A title, Canyon Randall was unseated by Comal Davenport in 4A and Bushland beat Gunter in a 3A championship rematch.
Blum was the first champion crowned after defeating Harrold in four sets in the Class 1A title on Thursday. Iola followed on Friday, downing Crawford in four sets for the Class 2A title.
Two UIL teams are ranked in SBLive's most recent national high school volleyball rankings: No. 3 Conroe Grand Oaks (48-1), which plays in the Class 6A semifinals Friday, and No. 24 McKinney Boyd, which is watching from home after being upset by Lake Highlands in the area round.
Scroll down and catch up on everything you missed on state championship Saturday — stories, photos, celebrations and highlights:
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CLASS 6A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
CONROE GRAND OAKS DEF KATY CINCO RANCH 3-0
Photo by Tom Dendy
Even before the third set started in Saturday's Class 6A state volleyball title match, Conroe Grand Oaks' boisterous student section anticipated the inevitable. They started chanting, "Best In Texas. Best In Texas." On this day, and for this season, the Grizzlies left no doubt. They put the finishing touches on a superb 50-win season by recording a three-set sweep against Katy Cinco Ranch, winning 25-22, 25-23, 25-x, at the Curtis Culwell Center.
- BRACKET
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CLASS 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
LUCAS LOVEJOY DEF. LIBERTY HILL 3-0
Photo by Michael Horbovetz
On Saturday, Lucas Lovejoy brought out the hits. The Leopards turned in a dominating performance at the net, getting 35 kills through the first two sets and 50 for the match, as they went on to a sweep against Liberty Hill for the Class 5A championship. Lovejoy prevailed, 25-18, 25-23, 25-19, at the Curtis Culwell Center.Saturday's win gave Lovejoy (34-10) its 10th state championship in program history.
HOW THEY REACHED THE FINAL DAY
Class 5A semifinals
Lucas Lovejoy def. Lamar Fulshear 3-0
25-21, 25-17, 25-17
Skylar Jackson and Gentry Barker posted nine kills apiece as Lucas Lovejoy beat Lamar Fulshear in three sets to advance to Saturday's Class 5A title. Bethanie Wu posted 31 assists, McKenna Brand had 22 digs and Jackson added another 11 digs for the Leopards. Barker had 5 of her 7 kills on seven total attempts.Bailey Warren had 15 kills and eight digs, Alexys James finished with 23 assists and Sydney Black added 14 digs to lead Lamar Fulshear.
Liberty Hill def. Colleyville Heritage 3-1
25-20, 23-25, 25-23, 25-21
Ava Kostroun finished with 11 blocks and four players recorded nine or more kills to help send Liberty Hill through to Saturday's Class 5A title. Annie Witt (12 kills, 17 digs), Kealy Dirner (10 kills, 13 digs), Gigi Mason (10 kills) and Taylor Gaines (9 kills) led the way for the Panthers. Suli Davis logged 22 kills, 14 assists and nine digs, Claire Bundy had 24 assists and Sarah Mendoza added 26 digs for Colleyville Heritage.
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4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Photo by Michael Horbovetz
Canyon Randall was looking to become the second straight Class 4A school to repeat as Texas high school volleyball state champions. That didn’t happen as Comal Davenport — a school that opened in 2020 — secured the first state championship in the sport with a 3-2 win over Randall on Saturday at Curtis Culwell Center. After Decatur won Class 4A titles in 2020 and 2021, Randall was looking to follow with crowns in 2022 and 2023.
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3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Photo by Michael Horbovetz
For the third year in a row, Bushland and Gunter faced off in the finals of the UIL 3A championship. Now, Bushland has the upper hand in terms of victories. Bushland beat Gunter, 25-22, 25-23, 20-25, 25-234 in the first of four championship games on Saturday at the Curtis Culwell Center. Last year, Gunter won in three sets, while the 2021 title went to Bushland in four sets. The championship is the seventh overall for the west Texas school and the third in three years with 3A titles in 2021 and 2020.
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2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Iola defeated Crawford 3-1
Crawford's road to the title: Defeated Windhorst in three hard-fought sets (29-27, 26-24, 25-16) in the semifinals. Beryn Hyland has 12 kills and a .435 hit rate, Blair Keith recorded 32 assists and Laney Elmore had 21 digs for the Pirates.
Iola's road to the title: Beat Schulenburg in four sets (29-19, 25-20, 19-25, 25-22). Lindsey Gooch put up 24 kills and 14 digs and Rylee Goodney finished with 42 assists for the Bulldogs.
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1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Blum defeated Harrold in four sets on Thursday to win its second state championship in a row. It's the sixth title for the Bobcats (30-7), the District 18-1A champions, who beat D'Hanis to win their first title in program history in 2022.
Ruby Ruhmohr had a UIL state record 45 assists, Addison Willingham finished 15 kills, Emma Scott added 12 kills and Kinsley McPherson posted 12 kills and 17 digs for Blum, which took command of the match in the fourth set after Harrold built momentum by winning the third.
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-- Andy Buhler | andy@scorebooklive.com | @sblivetx
Lead file photo by Michael Horbovetz.
