Austin lays down a marker

Bulldogs hope elite finish at tourney harbinger of things to come

If the Fort Bend Austin volleyball team plays as well this weekend as it did last weekend it can expect to bring home a trophy.

Austin won eight of nine matches at the Adidas Texas Volleyball Invitational in Pearland to finish 17th in the 88-team field that is widely regarded as the most prestigious regular season tournament in the nation.

The Lady Bulldogs’ only loss was to Clear Creek, which did not lose until the championship match. Their noteworthy victories came against Richardson Pearce, Friendswood, Grapevine, San Antonio Reagan and Dallas Highland Park.

Now Austin turns its focus to the Spring Branch ISD Invitational this weekend.

Preseason football poll

Three local football teams are included in the Class 5A preseason poll released by the Associated Press. George Ranch is ranked No. 7. The Longhorns are coming off a season in which they won a district championship and played all the way to the regional final. Ridge Point and Foster received votes in the poll but did not make the top 10.

Football scrimmages

Local teams will scrimmage Friday. Here is a list of this week’s games: Bush at Hastings, 8 a.m. Fort Bend Austin at Goose Creek Memorial, 9 a.m.

Klein Forest at Hightower, 10 a.m. At Hall Stadium

Clements at Willowridge, 6 p.m.

Houston Chavez at Elkins, 6 p.m.

Pasadena vs. Kempner, 6 p.m. At Mercer Stadium

Houston Reagan vs Ridge Point, 6 p.m. At Hall Stadium

Marshall at Dulles, 6:30 p.m.

Foster at Fort Bend Travis, 7 p.m.

Brazoswood vs. George Ranch, 7 p.m. at Traylor Stadium