From the hardwood to the gridiron and beyond, taking a look back and ahead at the San Antonio-area high school sports landscape:
By the numbers
2: Area volleyball teams who recently had long district winning streaks snapped. Harlan had a 35-match streak ended with Saturday’s loss to O’Connor, while La Vernia had a 24-match mark halted with a four-set setback vs. Navarro on Sept. 22.
8: Area teams making this week’s Texas Football magazine’s statewide rankings. Judson (No. 12), Brandeis (No. 19) and Steele (No. 24) are listed in Class 6A; Boerne Champion (No. 9) made it in 5A Division II; Fredericksburg (No. 10) is listed in 4A Division I; Poth (No. 5) is in 3A Division II; Falls City (No. 10) in 2A Division II; and Cornerstone (No. 5) earned a spot in the publication’s private schools poll.
16: Consecutive losses by Brandeis to Reagan in volleyball before Tuesday’s four-set triumph. Three of the setbacks were in the playoffs, including the Region IV-6A final in 2016.
17: Times that Smithson Valley had lost to New Braunfels in volleyball before winning a five-set thriller on Tuesday. The Rangers defeated New Braunfels in the second half of district play in 2012, but New Braunfels avenged the loss a few weeks later in the Region IV-6A final to spark the streak.
450: Career wins for Medina Valley volleyball coach Deesa Griggs, who reached the milestone during the Panthers’ victory vs. Southwest on Sept. 26. Griggs is in her 13th season at her alma mater and 23rd overall. She also coached at Hondo.
1,000: Career kills for Brandeis volleyball player Jalyn Gibson. A 6-foot-1 junior outside hitter committed to TCU, Gibson reached the mark during the Broncos’ win vs. Johnson on Sept. 25. Gibson amassed 1,000 career digs during the 2019 season.
1,000: Career assists for Boerne sophomore setter Madisyn Jones, who accomplished the feat during a district contest vs. Wimberley on Sept. 22.
Notebook
National spotlight: Cornerstone will compete in the Nike Tournament of Champions Friday and Saturday in Wesley Chapel, Florida, just north of Tampa. The event will be contested at the $44 million Wiregrass Ranch Sports Arena.
The Warriors (16-1), coached by Mike Carter, competed in the event last year in Phoenix. They are led by senior libero and Baylor commit Lauren Briseno and middle hitter Nayeli Gonzalez and outside hitter/setter Taylor Anderson, both considered among the nation’s top players in the Class of 2023. Anderson transferred from Warren.
Cornerstone is in the same pool as St. Thomas Aquinas and Buchholz, both from Florida.