Rattlers roll to first state tourney since ’16

For the first time in four years, the Reagan Rattlers are headed to the UIL Class 6A state semifinals after defeating the Brandeis Broncos 3-1 on Friday night at Northside ISD Sports Gym.

Reagan won the Region IV-6A championship 19-25, 25-17, 26-24, 25-21 in a battle of District 28-6A rivals. Brandeis claimed the district title and Reagan was runner-up during the regular season, beating the Rattlers twice during the campaign.

Reagan (21-3) will take on Katy Seven Lakes (23-1) on Monday or

Tuesday in Katy in the semifinals. Seven Lakes was a 3-1 winner over Katy on Friday in the Region III-6A final.

The semifinal winners advance to the state championship Dec. 12 at Garland.

“We knew we were capable,” said third-year Reagan coach Rachel Torvik. “We have the talent. We have been talking about potential versus production, and the kids produced tonight. They did their job, and my right side stepped up big in the third set.”

The Rattlers captured the state crown in 2006 and were semifinalists in 2005-06 and 2016. This season, Reagan claimed a victory over previously unbeaten O’Connor in four sets in the regional semifinals.

Brandeis, which finished the season at 20-3, jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the opening set. Reagan fought back and tied it at 15. An especially long and spirited rally gave the Broncos a 19-17 lead, and they won six of the next nine points to lead the match 1-0.

Reagan controlled the second set, jumping to a 12-8 lead. But the Broncos won three points in a row and tied it at 13. The Rattlers countered by winning three in a row for a 19-13 advantage.

The third set was back and fourth, as the score was deadlocked on 13 occasions. Reagan tied it at 22, when Brandeis took the next point. The score was tied again at 23, when the Rattlers were one point away from winning the set.

Brandeis saved set point and the scoreboard read 24-24. Reagan took the next two points and led the match 2-1.

Reagan took a 7-2 lead in set No. 4 and later led 18-14. Brandeis closed to within 18-19, when Reagan grabbed a 20-18 lead. The Rattlers won five of the next eight points to earn a trip to the state semifinals.

“It feels like all of our hard work has paid off,” Reagan senior libero

Maddie Correa said. “I know it hasn’t been a normal year, but I’m excited to keep pushing with my teammates because we are not done. We started executing on the balls (in the third and fourth sets) and I have to give credit to our hitters. I feel like the defensive part of it was there the whole game. “

Correa posted a team-best 38 digs and fired in a service ace to lead the Rattlers. Senior outside hitter Julia Aleman led in kills with 18, while junior setter Kearstin Davis accounted for 31 assists.

The Broncos played in their second regional final, with the last taking place in 2016. Reagan won that match 3-1.