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Varsity Volleyball is Unstoppable!

By Shelley Hatcher, 10/15/24, 6:17PM CDT

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Varsity started the week 30-2, 7-0 in District play. Stratford was ranked 3rd in the Texas Volleyball Insiders rankings of 6A teams and 7th among state 6A teams by MaxPreps. The team sat alone atop the District standings at the halfway point toward their third consecutive District title.

 

vs. Cy Creek

First up, Varsity hosted Cy Creek, a team within striking distance of a playoff berth looking to avenge a straight-set Spartan victory at the beginning of the season. Stratford jumped to an early lead and never looked back, sweeping Cy Creek again 25-10, 25-14, 25-22.

Leading the way in this match was Gwen Koss with 16 kills, Rachel Ashby with 10 digs, Caroline White and Koss with 3 aces, Tess Stephenson and Milena Miladinovic with 3 blocks, and Audrey Cook with 34 assists.

 

vs. Northbrook

On Thursday, Varsity traveled to Northbrook prior to getting a few days off for Fall Break. The Lady Spartans appeared to have gone on break a bit early. A few unforced errors by our Spartans and kills by the Lady Raiders brought the Raiders within one at 8-7. However, a monster kill by Avery Kent put the Spartans up 11-7 and had the serve back in Cook’s hands. The Lady Spartans went on a 12-0 run, including four aces by Cook and scores by MiladinovicLauren Dunwoody, and KentSydney Hatcher closed out the game with a tip for a kill, and the ladies took the first set 25-9.

The second set saw more of the same. Defensively, the Raiders dug some strong Spartan shots. But offensively the Raiders had no luck scoring in the face of lock-down defense by the back row made up of Logan SykesRachel Ashbyand Brooke McAfee. Meanwhile, Stephenson peppered the Raider defense with five scores. Kent and Miladinovic joined in, and much like the first set, a tip for a kill from Hatcher closed out the set 25-9 .

The Lady Spartans started off the 3rd set with a 11-0 run behind the serve of McAfee and scores by Kent and Jenna Rae James, including a monster kill at middle. Sykes headed back to the serve line with the Spartans up 15-4 and closed out the set on a 10-0 run that included four aces. The Spartans saw scores by Sydney Pera and Stephenson on nice setting by Caroline White, with Pera closing out the set and game with a kill for the 25-4 win.

 

Stratford sits 32-2 for the season and 9-0 in District play. Varsity continues District play hosting Jersey Village on Tuesday at 5:30 pm and hosting Cy Fair at 5:30 pm on Friday. Come make some noise and help the team continue this amazing run!

 

This week’s stats:

  • Audrey Cook – 56 assists, 14 digs and 8 aces
  • Gwen Koss – 16 kills (.300 hitting efficiency), 9 digs, 3 aces
  • Avery Kent – 14 kills (.542 hitting efficiency), 2 digs, 2 blocks
  • Logan Sykes – 12 digs, 6 aces
  • Rachel Ashby – 13 digs, 6 assists, 3 aces
  • Tess Stephenson – 13 kills (.417 hitting efficiency), 3 blocks, 1 ace
  • Sydney Hatcher – 12 kills (.524 hitting efficiency)
  • Milena Miladinovic – 5 blocks