The No. 1 team in the state stands in the way of the A&M Consolidated volleyball team, but the Lady Tigers believe numbers could favor them against Round Rock Westwood.
Consol climbed to fifth in the Texas Girls Coaches Association rankings this week. The Lady Tigers reached the Class 5A Region II semifinal round for the second consecutive season, and much of their success is built on their ability to attack in numbers.
The Lady Tigers have a balanced offense that spreads the hitting opportunities fairly evenly among five attackers. Consol's regional quarterfinal sweep of Garland Sachse was typical: Five players had at least four kills each, and none had more than 13.
"I would say it's pretty special," senior Shelby Dickson said. "The farther we get in the playoffs, the teams are going to have more hitters, too. Lately, we've pretty much been special with all our attackers."
Consol (34-8) will be seeking its first berth in a 5A regional final when the Lady Tigers play top-ranked Westwood (39-5) at 6 p.m. Friday in Sam Houston State's Johnson Coliseum. The second semifinal will send defending regional champion Lake Highlands (31-12) against Georgetown (39-7) in a match scheduled for 8 p.m.
The regional championship will be at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Consol had more dangerous hitters than any of its first three playoff opponents. Karla Gilbert, Erika Arthur, Ashton Holliday, Julia Westerbur and Dickson provide firepower from all three attacking positions -- outside hitter, middle blocker and right-side hitter.
The 6-foot-5 Gilbert led the domination at the net Tuesday against Sachse, delivering 13 kills and three blocks. Dickson added 11 kills, roaring back after missing the first round with a sprained thumb and contributing three kills in the area round.
When Dickson missed the bi-district match, Arthur led the team with 11 kills while Consol got more production than usual from Holliday and reserve Karrian Chambers.
"Having a lot of hitters makes it easier, because you never have to rely on one person to lead the team," junior middle blocker Arthur said. "When it's evenly spread out, nobody has to think it's on their shoulders, that they have to get their kills or the team won't win."
Because setter Bailey Gillum has so many options, the Consol hitters rarely produce eye-catching numbers. That could be a problem for a team with a couple of college prospects, but the Lady Tigers seem happy to spread the wealth.
"We have great respect for each other and we encourage one another," Arthur said. "If somebody's on one night, that's great. We let Bailey know she has a hot hitter. That's what is best for the team."
The Lady Tigers hope balance will help them get past Westwood, the team that is expected to win the regional and advance to the state tournament next weekend. The Lady Warriors won the state championship in 1999 and last reached the regional final in 2003. Westwood moved up one spot to the top of the TGCA rankings this week after previously top-ranked San Antonio Reagan was knocked out of the playoffs.
Consol's only trip to the state tournament came at the 4A level in 1985
"Ranking doesn't mean a lot to us," Westerbur said. "We just kind of play our game. We want to get over that hump and make it to state."
Last year, Consol won the first game of its regional semifinal before losing to Round Rock, 17-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-16. The Lady Tigers returned most of the top hitters from that team while Gillum, a junior, earned the job as starting setter.
The Lady Tigers' last two seasons ended at Johnson Coliseum. Consol fell to Magnolia in a regional quarterfinal match in 2007.
"We tend to lose at Sam Houston, and we're ready to break the curse," Dickson said. "We're ready to make it to state. We're confident that we can do it."
Westwood rallied to beat then-No. 6 College Park in their regional quarterfinal Tuesday. The Lady Warriors punched their ticket to Huntsville by winning 25-20, 25-27, 16-25, 25-18, 15-10.
Amari Deardorff, a 6-2 outside hitter who has signed to play at Texas State, led Westwood with 15 kills against College Park, while 5-10 sophomore Sierra Patrick added 14. Senior setter Kaleigh Colson had 48 assists.
CONSOL VOLLEYBALL
* Friday's match: A&M Consolidated (34-8) vs. Round Rock Westwood (39-5), Class 5A Region II semifinal, 6 p.m. Friday at Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville
* Friday's match: Regional final, 1 p.m. Saturday