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MCKINNEY NORTH 3, PROSPER WALNUT GROVE 1
Senior libero Gabi Rodriguez put in a season high 48 digs as the Bulldogs defeated the Wildcats in District 9-5A, 26-24, 20-25, 25-22, 25-23 on Tuesday night.
The Bulldogs (32-3, 13-0) secured their third district championship in the past five seasons, and first outright title since MaxPreps began tracking scores during the 2007 season. McKinney North will be the 1-seed in the D1 playoffs. The team reached the 5A D1 championship last season – losing to CC Flour Bluff in five sets.
Meanwhile, Walnut Grove – in its third season as a program – dropped to 11-2 in district and 30-8 overall. The Wildcats have locked up the 1-seed in the D2 bracket.
Kaitlyn Jefferson led the Bulldogs with 16 kills while Chloe Lewis and Anna Sayman chipped in 12 and 10. Jefferson and Nicole Jacobson each had four blocks. Malia McNeal and Jordan Kowalis led the offense with 30 and 24 assists, respectively.
The Wildcats led 7-1 in the first set, but shortly after, Walnut Grove star Penn State commit Danielle Whitmire went down awkwardly and didn’t return. She was seen on the bench with crutches.
McKinney North rallied from a 22-17 deficit in the fourth to close the game 3-1. The Bulldogs will close out the regular season on Friday against Melissa while WG faces Anna.
Rodriguez was named an Under Armour All-American and started off August playing for the USA-U21 National team overseas. Whitmire ranks in the Top 5 in DFW and Top 10 in the country. She was an alternate for the same USA team Rodriguez played for.
BYRON NELSON 3, JUSTIN NORTHWEST 0
The Bobcats, the #1 team in the nation by MaxPreps, picked up their 71-straight win, beating the Texans 25-15, 25-16, 25-14.
After winning their final 36 matches last season, capped with the Class 6A D2 state championship, the Bobcats improved to 35-0 on Tuesday including 15-0 in District 4-6A. The team has won 36-straight in district play and ends the regular season on Friday against LD Bell. Byron is the 1-seed in the D1 bracket.
Washington commit Kylie Kleckner had 17 kills on a 0.371 clip while AJ Seay (Rice) added 12 on 0.417 hitting. Seay also had four aces and eight digs. Texas A&M commit Sophee Peterson had 37 assists.
Northwest (23-12, 10-5) will be the 2-seed in the D2 bracket. The Texans were led by SMU commit Levariya Pinder, who had 14 kills on Tuesday.
Byron has won district back-to-back seasons, the first time since 2018 and 2019.
