Brandeis vs. Reagan

What: Region IV-6A final
When, where: 6 p.m. Friday at Northside ISD Gym
Records: Brandeis (20-2); Reagan (20-3)
Up next: Winner plays either Katy High or Katy Seven Lakes in the UIL Class 6A state semifinals.

Rosters
Brandeis
No. Player Pos Class
1 Emilia Guerra-Acuna OH Sr.
2 Dani Gray DS Jr.
3 Emma Sharpe S Sr.
4 Bella Perez DS Jr.
5 Becky Salinas DS Sr.
6 Abigail Halstead S Sr.
7 Emily Moran OH Sr.
8 Amy DeWalt DS Sr.
9 Samantha Valadez S/OH Fr.
10 Carlee Pharris S/OH Jr.
11 Leila Smalls OH/MB Jr.
12 Jalyn Gibson OH Jr.
13 Sophia Kuyn OH Fr.
14 Emma Halstead OH/MB Soph
15 Ella Chapman MB/OH Jr.
16 Eden Nunn OH Sr.
17 Sydney Barber OH Soph
18 Austin Smoak MB/OH Fr.
19 Alyssa Rodriguez OH Soph
Coach: Maddie Williams

Reagan
No. Player Pos Class
2 Kinley Graf S Soph
3 Maribel Martinez S Jr.
4 Alyssa Manitzas L/DS Soph
5 Giselle Kaderabek OH Jr.
6 Chichi Ozigbo OH/MH Soph
7 Remi Vanderpool MH Sr.
8 Maddie Correa L Sr.
9 Katie Hill MH/OH Soph
10 Julia Aleman OH Sr.
11 Preslie Yates MH Fr.
13 Brenna Heffron DS Soph
14 Julia Bland OH Jr.
15 Nyah Anderson OH Sr.
16 Jenna Karleskint OH/DS Jr.
17 Erin Jones OH/DS Soph
18 Madison Collins DS/OH Sr.
19 Kearstin Davis S Jr.
20 Gabriella Reeves S Fr.
Coach: Rachel Torvik

Key storyline
Before this season, Brandeis had never beaten Reagan. The Broncos were 0-16, with three of the losses coming during the playoffs, including in the 2016 Region IV-6A final. They got their breakthrough this year by sweeping their longtime nemesis during district play.
If Brandeis is to record another landmark occasion — its first trip to the UIL Class 6A state semifinals — it will have to do so by defeating the Rattlers for a third time this season.

Key matchup
Brandeis’ attack vs. Reagan back-row defense: While both teams have displayed their acumen in other areas, this is likely where this match will be decided. Jalyn Gibson, Carlee Pharris, Emma Halstead and Emilia Guerra-Acuna headline the Broncos’ balanced and potent offense. Gibson has 350 kills, Halstead 242 and Pharris 191.
Maddie Correa and Alyssa Manitzas have sparked the Rattlers’ defense, playing an integral role in the team’s success during the playoffs. Reagan limited defending regional champion Clemens to a .129 hitting percentage in bidistrict and in back-to-back wins vs. unbeaten Austin Lake Travis and O’Connor, those opponents hit a combined .175.

Looking back
Sept. 29 at Northside Gym: Brandeis rode stellar all-around play from Jalyn Gibson (20 kills, 16 digs and 4.5 blocks), Carlee Pharris (33 assists, 13 kills, five aces and 2.5 blocks) and Emma Halstead (10 kills, 19 digs) and solid defense at the net (12 blocks) to win a highly-anticipated District 28-6A encounter. Libero Amy DeWalt had 23 digs as the Broncos claimed a 25-20, 19-25, 25-17, 27-25 triumph, their first vs. Reagan. Nyah Anderson led the Rattlers with 20 kills and 20 digs, libero Maddie Correa had 29 digs and outside hitter Julia Aleman added 12 kills.

Oct. 30 at Littleton Gym: In the rematch, with first place in district still in the balance, Brandeis rallied for 18-25, 25-13, 25-20, 25-20 win. The Broncos capitalized on balanced attacking — Gibson had 16 kills, Pharris and Halstead each had 12, and Emilia Guerra-Acuna tallied 10. Halstead had three aces and Gibson, who had 28 digs, and Pharris had two apiece. Austin Smoak had four blocks and Pharris and Halstead added 2 1/2 apiece. Anderson paced Reagan with 15 kills and two aces and Correa had 32 digs.