BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @Gosset41
The last time Allen was one win from a state appearance, you’d have to go back 18 years during the 2006 season. Gosset was enjoying his senior year in Hawaii. One year later, it was Royse City that was a win from a state berth.
Both teams snapped those droughts on Tuesday night after winning regional semifinal games against El Paso Eastlake Eastlake and Conroe Oak Ridge, respectively.
Playing earlier on Tuesday, Allen took down Eastlake in four sets, 25-18, 25-18, 20-25, 25-20. The Eagles improved to 30-12 overall on the season and will face Keller in the Class 6A D1 Region 1 championship.
The winner will clinch a spot in the state semifinals.
District 6-6A is one of the toughest in the state and out of the four playoff teams, Allen is the remaining school from that district – finishing third in the standings behind Plano West and Plano East, both who lost in the third round.
Allen has also beaten Coppell and Lake Highlands in the playoffs. The Eagles’ 30 wins this year are their most since the 2017 season. In 2006, Allen reached the state tourney before losing to Amarillo in the state semifinals.
Over in 6A D2, Royse City beat Oak Ridge after dropping the first set 18-25, 25-16, 25-22, 25-15. The Bulldogs are 40-8 overall and finished second in District 10-6A.
They will face The Woodlands College Park in the Region 2 final.
Another win will clinch the team’s first state appearance in program history. They made the regional final in 2007 – 17 years ago, but lost out to White Oak in 3A Region 2. The Bulldogs showcase outside hitter Kylee McCoy and setter Alayna Howard. McCoy is #1 in the state in kills and Howard is #4 in assists.
