After beating Argyle for the Region I title, the Lady Bulldogs head to Rock Hill High School for Saturday’s Class 5A Division II state semifinal.
By Greg Jaklewicz
The last ball went into the net, and the Lady Bulldogs rushed together at center court. In the stands at Lipan High School, Wylie fans roared and held up their phones to record the moment. Twice in the previous two seasons, Argyle had ended Wylie’s playoff run. This time, Wylie had won the region.
Junior Morgan Bearden needed a moment to take it in. Then she was already thinking about what came next.
“We have two more to go,” she said.
The first of those is Saturday, Nov. 14, when Wylie (38-4) meets Colleyville Heritage (37-7) at 1 p.m. at Rock Hill High School in Frisco. The winner advances to the Class 5A Division II state championship match.
A rematch with more at stake
Wylie beat Heritage 2-0 in tournament play in August. The Panthers have dropped only one set in four playoff matches and earned the Region II title with a 25-23, 25-15, 25-22 sweep of Celina.
The Lady Bulldogs reached the semifinal with a 26-24, 18-25, 25-23, 25-16 win over Argyle on Tuesday. The victory sent coach Shay Cox to a state semifinal for the first time in 34 years of coaching.
“What a crowd. What a night. I mean, point for point,” Cox said between hugs and photos. “It is surreal. It’s unbelievable.”
The points that turned the match
The first set was tied 18 times. Argyle had set point at 24-23 before serving into the net. Haddie Mock hit a crosscourt winner, then Kiki Bolden blocked an Argyle shot to take the set. Bolden dropped to the floor and pounded her fist in celebration.
“That first set really got us going,” Mock said.
Argyle took the second. Wylie answered in the third, with D’Nae Dolton putting away the final point for a 25-23 win. When the teams switched sides again, Cox told the Lady Bulldogs to play one point at a time. Wylie pulled away in the fourth, and the crowd that had followed the team to Lipan had a regional title to celebrate.
Mock led Wylie with 19 kills, and Dolton added 14. Bearden had 16 digs, Bolden added 14 and Jenna Stricklin accounted for four of Wylie’s seven blocks.
“She was flying all over the place,” Cox said of Bearden. “Even when she was in the right spot but the ball deflected off hands, she was still in the right spot.”
Bearden had been waiting all season for a match like Tuesday’s. Mock, a senior, was glad the Lady Bulldogs could share it with the friends and family who came to Lipan. On Saturday, they’ll play for a chance to keep the season going.
“I’m so happy we got this milestone done, but we’re not done,” Mock said.
Match information
Matchup · Wylie vs. Colleyville Heritage, Class 5A Division II state semifinal
First serve · 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14
Location · Rock Hill High School, 16061 Coit Road, Frisco, TX 75035
Admission · $12 general admission. The venue is cashless, and parking is free. UIL site handbook
Stream: Check Abilene Wylie Volleyball on NFHS Network for the Wylie vs. Colleyville Heritage livestream.