The girls’ volleyball team lost in four sets to Victoria West in the second round of the playoffs, but that does not take away from the success they had this season. The team went the furthest into the playoffs they’ve ever gone under coach Shalanda Byers, and were electric to watch all season.
Led by Arkansas commit Parker Duncan, the Trojans went 14-0 in district play this year and 28-10 overall. Moreover, they swept teams 20 times this year, showcasing how dominant they were in most of their matchups.
Duncan told me that “it means a lot being district champs” and that she is “so proud of the way [the team was] able to grow and work together”.
The Trojans were dominant across all stat categories this season. Parker led the district in kills this year and was 21st in all of Texas with 635, she also led the district in aces with 77. Junior Bailey Santos was first with 1078 assists, and freshman standout Chloe Frizzell was elite up front with a district leading 61 blocks.
Serving was a particularly strong part of the team’s game this season, as Duncan, Santos, Frizzell, Claire Nix, Ava Pandya, and Piper Poage all had at least 44 aces on the year. As a whole the team averaged 3.1 aces per set and had a serving percentage of 87.5%.
“It was such a fun season and I am so proud of how we did!” – Ava Pandya
All of this being said, it’s no surprise that at season’s end, there was no shortage of awards for the Trojans. Duncan was the district MVP after a phenomenal senior season, and she was joined on the all-district first team by Frizzell, Poage, and Nix. Pandya and Brooklyn Vazquez were second team honorees, and Marlee Whitford and Kate Leakey received honorable mentions. Team awards went out to Duncan (MVP), Frizzell (Offensive MVP), Nix (Defensive MVP), and Addison Richards (Trojan Heart).
The awards didn’t stop on the court though. Every Trojan volleyball player and manager Sylvan Block earned academic all district awards, showcasing the team’s commitment to hard work on and off the court.
Overall, it was a fantastic season for girls’ volleyball and a fitting one for such a dedicated senior class. The team will graduate nine players including all four captains, but return key starters like Poage, Santos, and Frizzell. With another year in 5A ahead, the Trojans will look to bring home another district championship trophy next November.
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