VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEW: BURTON VS. MCDADE

After an incredible season, the Burton Lady Panther Volleyball Team is getting ready for the playoffs that start tonight (Thursday).

The Lady Panthers will face McDade in a Bi-District Round match at 7:30pm at the Caldwell High School Gym. KWHI will have live coverage beginning with a 7:05pm pregame on the KWHI.com Sports Alternate Feed and the KWHI phone app.

Burton, who is 36-9 on the season, currently find themselves ranked at #2 in the Texas Girls Coaches Association poll in Class 2A behind only Iola.

The Lady Panthers have played Iola four times so far this season with each team winning twice.

Burton had a tough non-district schedule, which included playing in tournaments against 4A, 5A, and 6A programs. However, it was when they got to district competition that the Lady Panthers dominated.

Burton won the District 26-2A Championship with a perfect 8-0 record, and, for the second year in a row, did not lose a set in any of their district matches.

They then went on to defeat #10 Ranked Leon 3-1 in a warm-up match for the playoffs on Tuesday night, which extended the Lady Panthers' current winning streak to ten games.

The team consists of four seniors, three juniors, and four sophomores. They are in their third season under Head Coach Blaire Smith.

TEAM LEADERS

Kills: Lexi Broesche (So.) - 353, Laci Broesche (So.) - 223, Aerynn Huntsman (Sr.) - 184, and Madalyn Henry (So.) - 176

Assists: Adison Harmel (Jr.) - 757 and Laci Broesche (So.) - 519

Aces: Lexi Broesche (So.) - 68 and Adison Harmel (Jr.) - 65

Blocks: Kinsey Lunbeck (Jr.) - 54 and Madalyn Henry (So.) - 32

Digs: Paige Fritsch (Sr.) - 524, Lexi Broesche (So.) - 438, Aerynn Huntsman (Sr.) - 264, and Laci Broesche (So.) - 229

Continuing with what was started in football, from each district the two teams with the highest enrollment will go into the Division I bracket, while the two teams with the lowest enrollment go into the Division II bracket.

For these two districts, the Burton vs. McDade, and Mumford vs. Granger matches will be in the Division II bracket. Meanwhile the Snook vs. Holland and Somerville vs. Thorndale matches will be in the Division I bracket.

Whoever wins between Burton and McDade will move on to the Area Round next week to face the winner of Weimar and Pettus. Those two schools are playing tonight (Thursday) at 6pm at Edna High School.