The Plano volleyball team has its sights on its first playoff appearance since 2018 and performances like Tuesday’s against Allen showed just how intent the Lady Wildcats are on bringing that goal to fruition.
Plano earned a signature victory under head coach Lauren Anderson after handing the nationally ranked Lady Eagles a 3-0 defeat (25-23, 25-20, 25-23), improving to 2-0 in district play in the process.
The Lady Wildcats held Allen’s high-powered offense to just .167 hitting while doubling up the Lady Eagles in blocks, 8-4. Five of those rejections came courtesy of LSU commit and senior Destiny Seaward.
Allen was paced by 12 kills from sophomore Maya Ogbogu, but Plano managed to counter with 25 kills spread among three hitters with senior Taylor Pitts and junior Madeline Garcia registering nine apiece and sophomore Trinity Ellis chipping in eight.
The Lady Eagles drop to 2-1 in district play, good for third place behind the top two of Plano West (3-0) and Plano (2-0).
QUICK HITS
Plano West continued its unbeaten start to 6-6A by downing crosstown rival Plano East in three sets (25-17, 25-22, 26-24). The Lady Panthers, now 1-2 in district, fought to avert the sweep by building a 21-13 lead in the third set before the Lady Wolves closed the match on a 13-3 run, tying the match at 24-24 on a kill by senior Reese Poerner and then taking the lead moments later on an ace by junior Lola Peters.
In a meeting of teams that tied for fourth place in 6-6A, McKinney Boyd handed Prosper a 3-0 defeat (25-20, 25-21, 25-16) to even its district record at 1-1. Sophomore Trinity Johnson paced the Lady Broncos’ offense with nine kills, while sophomore Cat Van Ham and senior Keira Bose were a force at the net with six blocks apiece.
Prosper Rock Hill got into the district win column after a 3-0 victory over Princeton (25-22, 26-24, 25-15). Senior Chierika Okororie was efficient with eight kills on an .800 hitting percentage, while senior Emma Alexander tallied 21 digs to bump the Lady Blue Hawks to 1-2.
DISTRICT STANDINGS
1. Plano West (3-0)
2. Plano (2-0)
3. Allen (2-1)
4. McKinney (1-1)
4. McKinney Boyd (1-1)
6. Plano East (1-2)
6. Prosper Rock Hill (1-2)
8. Prosper (0-2)
9. Princeton (0-3)