Print Version
E-mail This StoryPlano West and Plano East will both be in Abilene today for the Region I Volleyball Tournament, but the path through the regional quarterfinals was exactly opposite for the Lady Wolves and Lady Panthers.
Think of Tuesday’s matches as the equivalent of the 1998 film Sliding Doors (any Gwyneth Paltrow fans out there) whereby the two teams traveled different paths only to end up at the exact same conclusion. East won its first two sets versus Arlington Martin before triumphing in the fifth while West lost the first two games against Southlake Carroll before charging back.
“I think we have the mentality now where we believe in ourselves no matter what,” said Madie Jones, West senior. “I think you really saw our heart [Tuesday].”
While playing in five-game matches is something new for the Lady Wolves, they hadn’t done so all season until the area round of the playoffs, going to regionals isn’t as this is West’s third straight regional tournament berth.
The Lady Wolves lost to Allen in the 2006 Region II Finals before defeating Lake Highlands in the 2007 Region II Finals to become the first Plano ISD volleyball team to make the Class 5A State Tournament.
And with a handful of returning players from both of those teams, West is confident it can return to San Marcos again in 2008.
“We were a little inexperienced at the beginning of the season, but we have established a really good team chemistry by all playing for each other,” said Megan Murphy, West senior. “If we play like we can, I think we’ll make it back to state.”
To do so, West will first have to get past two-time defending state champions Amarillo in the regional semifinals, 6 p.m. today at McMurry Kimbrell Arena. This isn’t the first go round for the two teams this season as the Lady Wolves led the Golden Sandies, 24-21, in Game 1 and 2 at the Duncanville Tournament of Champions in August before dropping both sets.
“I think we are a lot better at finishing now,” said Lucy Zheng, West senior. “We definitely showed that [on Tuesday].”
Currently on a 16-match winning streak, West is determined not to let what happened at Duncanville happen again.
“We are a lot different than the first time we played Amarillo,” said Haley Wessels, West senior. “And if we play like we know how, not like the first two games [against Carroll] I think we’ll be okay.”
If West makes it to the regional finals for a third straight season they could meet a familiar face as East is playing Amarillo Tascosa, at 8 p.m. today, in the other regional semifinal. This is the Lady Panthers first trip to the regional tournament since 2002, head coach Marcy Crabtree’s third year on the job.
“This is a really awesome feeling,” Crabtree said. “And I know the girls want to keep it going.”
East seniors Allison Brown, Kyndra Gross, Wendy Krell, Samantha Wendling, Maci Young and company are looking to build on a season-high five-match win streak. And the Lady Panthers have learned how to battle in tight games as the team is 6-0 in five-set matches this season.
“These kids are good at taking one point, one game and one match at a time and I think they have really started to peak at just the right time,” Crabtree said. “We are heading to Abilene as prepared as we can be and I know the girls are super pumped.”
Recent history is on both East and West’s side to reach Saturday’s Region I Championship, 1 p.m. at Kimbrell Arena, as the last two years two District 9-5A (now 8-5A) teams have battled in the finals.
“I’m really stoked that two Plano teams have made it this far,” Crabtree said. “It’s exciting and I hope both of us go through to the finals.”
For fans that can’t make it out to Abilene, all is not lost as Champion Sports Radio will be broadcasting the semifinals, and finals if necessary, live online. To the listen to the matches as they happen, go to: championsportsradio.com.
