New Braunfels Canyon vs. Dripping Springs
What: Region IV-5A final
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Buda Johnson HS
Records: New Braunfels Canyon (24-1); Dripping Springs (21-5)
Up next: Winner plays Richmond Fulshear in Class 5A state semifinals. Fulshear, which is coached by Smithson Valley graduate and former Kerrville Tivy coach Sydney Teuton Gotcher, won the 4A state title last year before moving up during the UIL realignment in February.

Rosters
New Braunfels Canyon
No. Player Pos Class
1 Victoria Fontenot L/DS Jr.
2 Jaden Wiser DS Sr.
4 Addison Evans DS/L Sr.
5 Haley Therien MH Jr.
10 Danielle Classy OH Soph
11 Mckenzie McMullen OH Sr.
12 Megan Hawkins S Fr.
13 Kenna Ricker OH Sr.
14 Alyssa Koehl DS/L Jr.
18 Erin Jones S/OH Sr.
19 Emma Jubela MH Sr.
20 Kyla Malone OH Jr.
21 Maya Jones OH Soph
22 Isabell Woo DS Soph
23 McKenzie Woitena OH Jr.
25 Allison Paveglio OH Sr.
31 Taylor Thorpe S Sr.
42 Courtney Pope MH Soph
Coach: Heather Sanders

Dripping Springs
No. Player Pos Class
1 Cecelia Guzaldo DS Sr.
3 Clara Martin DS Jr.
4 Lauren Pyka MB Sr.
5 Karley Sledge OH Soph
6 Ryann Allison OH Jr.
7 Noelle Dominey DS Jr.
8 Madi Lund MB Jr.
9 Morgan Van De Walle S Sr.
10 Nicole Herbert DS Sr.
11 Mackenzie Plante OH Soph
12 Ella Baldwin DS Jr.
14 Reagan Hellberg OH Jr.
15 Natalie Arnold MB Soph
16 Ryann Frontera S Jr.
17 Abby Wingrin S Jr.
18 Ava Williamson OH Soph
19 Annabelle Crowder OH Jr.
20 Bella Rodriguez DS Sr.
22 Greer Gilbraith OH Jr.
Coach: Michael Kane

Key storyline
Will the third time be the charm for New Braunfels Canyon? The Cougarettes have already defeated twice during District 26-5A action, once in five sets and another time in a sweep, and a third victory would land them their first trip to the UIL state semifinals since 2015.
If Dripping Springs’ playoff run has indicated anything, it’s that the chore will not be easy for Canyon. Dripping Springs, in the regional final for the third straight year and for the sixth time since in the past eight seasons, has won all four playoff matches in sweep, including knocking off defending Region IV-5A champion Alamo Heights. Dripping Springs lost twice to Alamo Heights during district play.
The Cougarettes have been on a roll. They’ve won 15 straight sets since dropping the opening stanza vs. Leander in bidistrict, including a sweep of previously unbeaten Corpus Christi Flour Bluff.

Key matchup
Dripping Springs outside hitter Mackenzie Plante vs. Canyon front row: While the outcome of this match likely won’t rest entirely on this encounter, the two previous meetings left little doubt how important it is.
When Canyon rallied to defeat Dripping Springs in five sets in the teams’ first district meeting on Sept. 29, Plante had 21 kills. With Emma Jubela and Courtney Pope leading the way, the Cougarettes prevailed in a sweep on Oct. 24 as Plante, a 6-foot-1 sophomore, was limited to three kills and a minus-.040 hitting percentage.

Looking back
Sept. 29 at Dripping Springs: It took a lot of people stepping up, but Canyon grabbed the first district meeting with a 25-17, 13-25, 22-25, 25-19, 15-13 win. Senior setter/outside hitter Erin Jones had a triple-double (10 kills, 17 digs, 26 assists), Kyla Malone had 15 kills and McKenzie Woitena added 10 kills, and libero Victoria Fontenot tallied 29 digs and five aces. Addison Evans had 28 digs and Megan Hawkins contributed 20 assists. Dripping Spring registered 13 blocks, with Natalie Arnold and Ava Williamson having four apiece.

Oct. 24 at New Braunfels Canyon: Malone (18 kills, 16 digs) and Jones (24 assists, 10 digs) each had a double-double as the Cougarettes rolled to a 25-18, 25-20, 25-17 decision. Woitena had a team-best 12 kills to pace a .248 team attacking performance, while Evans notched 20 digs.