Plano volleyball survives late Wakeland push to advance to regionals
The Wildcats won the decisive fourth set by 13 points on Tuesday, extending their winning streak to six games while their district rivals were eliminated in Division I.
By Adriana Abebe ·
Plano High volleyball faced its toughest challenge of the season Tuesday night at Walnut Grove High School in Prosper. Frisco Wakeland fought back from a two-set deficit to force a deciding point, but the Wildcats closed the match with a dominant final set. The 25-23, 25-17, 23-25, 25-12 victory secured a spot for Plano in the Class 6A Division II regional semifinals.
The first two sets favored Plano. The Wildcats edged Wakeland 25-23 in the opener and won the second set by an eight-point margin. Wakeland changed momentum in the third set, taking control late to steal the set and stay alive. In the fourth set, Plano pulled away decisively, finishing the game with a 13-point advantage over the Tigers.
The win marks the sixth consecutive victory for Plano, improving their overall record to 35-8. The team is 20-4 at neutral sites this season, 8-1 at home, and 7-3 on the road. Wakeland’s season ended with a 23-19 record. Plano finished District 7-6A with a 12-2 mark. Their two district losses occurred at Plano East on Sept. 22 and at home against Coppell on Oct. 9.
Plano’s path to the area round included a five-set win over Plano West in October and a three-set sweep of Plano East on Oct. 16. The team opened the playoffs with a 3-0 bi-district victory over Haltom on Oct. 29. Other area-round winners in the 6A Division II bracket included Keller, Southlake Carroll, Prosper Walnut Grove, Mansfield, and North Forney.
Both of Plano’s district rivals were eliminated from the Division I bracket on Monday. Plano East lost to No. 4 McKinney Boyd 25-13, 25-16, 25-22 at Lovejoy. Plano West fell to No. 2 Allen 25-17, 25-12, 25-20. Neither team won a set against their ranked opponents.
The district rivals had given Plano trouble earlier in the year. Plano East took one of the Wildcats’ two league losses, while Plano West forced a fifth set before dropping that match in October. The current roster now faces a regional semifinal matchup against one of the remaining Division II teams.
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