Clear Falls peaking at just the right time
Two-time Region III champions hoping for another extended postseason run
Clear Falls might not be one of the highest ranked volleyball teams in the state, but the Houston area has learned one thing over the last couple of years.
No matter the regular season record, do not count out the Lady Knights.
Clear Falls has won the last two regional championships. Two years ago it came after a district title, but last year it came after it finished third in district play. That’s why the rest of the teams in the Region 3 bracket will be on high alert if Clear Falls wins a couple of matches once the playoffs begin next week.
The Lady Knights (2417) once again will be the No. 3 seed out of District 24-6A.
Coach Lyndsay Hodges said everybody recognizes the similarities, but she is trying to compare this season to last season or the one before that.
“It’s hard to not want to say that that it’s our job to defend it,” Hodges said. “But each year is so different because you have such different chemistry and different build up. You might have similar components from years previous, but it really is different.”
Clear Falls will open the playoffs against Dulles early next week. The Lady Knights will have to win five matches over the next two weeks to get to state for the third consecutive time.
The biggest contributor to the first two regional titles was Allysa Enneking, who is playing for Oklahoma as a true freshman this season. There are plenty of players left over, including Ashlynn Dunbar, a San Diego State pledge.
Dunbar was injured early in the season but has returned to form during district play. She is capable of carrying the team and did several times last season even when Enneking was on the court.
“Ally was a huge part of who we were the last four years, but what has been great is that Ashlynn has been so much part of that, too,” Hodges said. “This has been her year to see what kind of leader she is. She has proven to be a phenomenal player. Her role has grown as the season has progressed.”
One thing this year’s team has that the last two did not is a large senior class. Ten Clear Falls players are in their final season and can draw from the last runs to state for experience.
That experience did not equate to many big victories during non-district play, but the Lady Knights have proven their worth in the rigors of 24-6A competition. Just in case outsiders wanted to write off Clear Falls for a lack of elite wins, the Lady Knights defeated Clear Springs in four games on Oct. 23.
They’ll need plenty more of those types of victories over the next two weeks if they’re going to make it to state for the third year in a row. If the Lady Knights do that, Hodges said it will be an accomplishment that stands entirely on its own.
“You might want to say this is what we’ve done and this is where we’ve been, but it kind of doesn’t matter,” Hodges said. “It’s what they’re going to make of it. How are we going to make it happen for this group? When this team has the right mindset they are capable of anything.”
Two other local teams might be capable of anything in the playoffs, too. For the second year in a row, Clear Creek will be the No. 1 seed. The Wildcats (38-5) began the season with a runner-up finish at the prestigious Texas Volleyball Invitational and have not slowed down.
Clear Springs finally broke into the top two after never finishing better than fourth place. The Chargers (32-11) will be one of the toughest outs in the playoffs.
The final playoff berth in 24-6A was still to be decided at publication time. Clear Lake was in position to clinch that spot with a victory over Clear Creek on Tuesday. A Clear Lake loss, however, would keep Friendswood alive if it won its regular season finale against Clear Brook.
Corey Roepken is a freelance writer. He can be reached at croepken@gmail.com and twitter.com/ripsports.