Varsity Volleyball started the week 32-2, 9-0 in District play. Stratford was ranked 3rd in the Texas Volleyball Insiders rankings of 6A teams and 9th among State 6A teams by MaxPreps. The Spartans sat alone atop the District standings with a chance to clinch a playoff spot in this week’s action.
vs. Jersey Village
First up, Varsity hosted Jersey Village, a team battling for one of the four District playoff spots. Before the game, the team also honored its seniors: Maddie Alvarado (manager), Rachel Ashby (libero), Jenna Rae James (middle blocker), Avery Kent (outside hitter/opposite), Brooke McAfee (defensive specialist), Sydney Pera (outside hitter), Evie Questell (manager), Taylor Ricklefsen (manager), and Logan Sykes (defensive specialist). These young ladies have honored their commitment to the Stratford Volleyball program and will definitely be missed next year!
Once play started, multiple quick scores by Jenna Rae James and Avery Kent had Stratford leading early, forcing a Falcon timeout at 7-1. Out of the timeout, Gwen Koss scored a quick ace to keep momentum going. Then Koss hammered home a kill with authority after a diving save from Rachel Ashby to build an 11-2 lead. A pair of slide kills by Tess Stephenson and a Caroline White ace forced a second Jersey Village timeout at 17-5. A monster combo block by James and Sydney Pera and three scores from Kent closed out the set at 25-11.
The second set started with the teams trading leads early. Scores by Stephenson and Sydney Hatcher and multiple scores by Koss helped Varsity carve out a 17-12 lead. A Koss hammer shot made possible by two acrobatic saves by Audrey Cook helped bring the score to 21-17. Unfortunately, things fell apart from there. Jersey Village went on a 8-2 run to take the set 23-25.
A pair of James blocks helped open a small lead in the third set. Three Stephenson scores forced an early timeout at 9-6. Brooke McAfee kept things rolling after the break with an ace. While the Falcons were able to tie the set briefly at 11 all, Stratford pulled ahead for good on the strength of nifty back-row defense by Ashby, White, Cook, and Logan Sykes and kills by Koss, Kent, and Hatcher. Kent capped off the set with an exclamation point shot to the floor to prevail 25-21.
Forced to go to a fourth set for the first time in District play, the Spartans took command early. Koss, Kent, and Hatcher scored early and often. A pair of combo blocks by Stephenson and Cook kept up the scoring pressure. A pair of scores by Milena Miladinovic added to a Stratford lead that was never threatened. A trio of scores by Cook, Koss, and Sykes closed out the set in a 25-11 rout to take the match.
vs. Cy Fair
On Friday, Stratford hosted the always tough Cy Fair High School. The Bobcats sat in 3rd place in District standings coming into the week, looking to solidify their playoff picture and wanting to avenge a straight-set loss to Stratford earlier in District play.
A pair of Hatcher scores and three Koss kills gave Stratford an 8-7 lead in the first set that they would not relinquish. A Miladinovic block made it 10-7. What followed were a series of scores set up by extraordinary supporting play. A perfectly struck Stephenson score was made possible by a sweet back-angle set by Cook that placed the ball on a tee for a swing. A Hatcher kill was made possible by an almost impossible dig by McAfee of a crushing opponent strike. A booming Koss kill was made possible by the scrambling saves of Sykes and McAfee. As Stratford pulled away, four more scores by Koss and three by Kent sealed the set at 25-15.
The Spartans sprinted to a lead in the second set and kept the pressure up throughout. The Bobcats were never in this set. Stephenson and Koss kept trading scores until set point. A Miladinovic corner kill shot, made possible by a diving Lauren Dunwoody save, closed out the set 25-10.
The Bobcats kept closer in the third set, trading leads until the midpoint. From 11 all, the Spartans started to slowly build a lead. Hatcher and Stephenson helped tally kills to give Stratford a lead it would hold. The Spartans gained an 18-14 advantage on the strength of a back-shoulder setter dump by Cook that was so deceptive -- for a brief instant it fooled the entire gym. Varsity inched further ahead until a Stephenson kill gave Stratford the set and match at 25-20.
Audrey Cook was honored this week by KPRC Channel2/UTMB as their Athlete of the Week. Congratulations to our junior setter and captain on yet another honor this season!
This week’s wins sealed a playoff bid for Varsity for the 5th consecutive season. Stratford sits 34-2 for the season and 11-0 in District play. Varsity continues District play on the road this coming week, playing at Cy Falls at 5:30 pm on Tuesday and at Cy Ridge 4:30 pm on Friday.
This week’s stats include: