Rivals O’Connor, Clark to battle for trip to state

led from start to finish. O’Connor had to shake off an early deficit.

The different paths yielded the expected outcome — an all-Northside ISD showdown for the Region IV-6A title.

Clark (47-3) rolled past Laredo United 25-16, 25-19, 25-19, while O’Connor (40-11) rallied to beat McAllen Memorial 23-25, 25-19, 25-10, 25-15 at the Alamo Convocation Center.

The Cougars, who tied Churchill’s 2013 state finalist squad for single-season wins by an area team, got 15 kills each from Kara McGhee and Elise McGhee.

The Panthers topped McAllen Memorial in this round for the second straight year and the third time in the past four seasons behind 12 kills apiece from Kalin Nelson and Gabby DeLosSantos.

The district rivals will meet at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Alamo CC for the regional crown and a berth in the UIL state tournament next week at the Culwell Center in Garland.

It will be the fifth time Northside teams have met for the regional title and the first such matchup since 1996. Clark and Jay met in 1990, ’91 and ’92 and Marshall defeated Clark in ’96.

Region IV-5A: At South San, senior outside hitter Hannah Maddux had 22 kills and 25 digs as Boerne Champion outlasted Corpus Christi Flour Bluff 25-21, 21-25, 24-26, 2523, 15-10 in the regional semifinals.

The Chargers advanced to the regional final for the first time since their only other appearance in 2012. They will play Dripping Springs at 1 p.m. Saturday at South San.

Kaylin Wright added 13 kills and Amanda Hastings tallied 10 for Champion.

Region IV-4A: District foes La Vernia and Navarro each lost in the regional semifinals. La Vernia fell to defending state champion Needville in three sets, while Navarro lost to Richmond Fulshear 22-25, 25-21, 25-14, 25-23.

Region IV-3A: Two-time deClark

It will be the fifth time Northside teams have met for the regional title and the first such matchup since 1996.

fending state champion Goliad fought off a stiff challenge and beat Blanco 25-22, 17-25, 25-15, 25-23 in a semifinal at Littleton Gym.

Blanco (29-14) led 23-22 late in the fourth set and seemed poised to force a decisive fifth set. But after a timeout, Goliad reeled off the final three points to prevail.

Goliad (38-6) will play Industrial for the regional title at 11 a.m. Saturday at Littleton.

Region IV-A: In Brenham, D’Hanis dug itself out of a two-set hole and defeated longtime state power Round Top-Carmine 19-25, 20-25, 25-22, 25-12, 15-10.

D’Hanis will play Fayetteville at 11 a.m. Saturday for a state tournament berth.