With balance, determination and their sights set on the destination, Chaparral and Ellison rode the waves of the regular season to reach the playoffs. Both want to continue the ride.
The Lady Bobcats (29-11) open the Class 6A Division II postseason with a bi-district bout at 6 p.m. Friday against Mansfield Lake Ridge (33-8) at West High School.
Meanwhile, the Lady Eagles (29-12) will see a familiar foe on the other side of the net when they tangle with Midlothian Heritage (26-15) for the third straight postseason. That Class 5A Division II clash is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday at China Spring High School.
Lake Ridge finished fourth in District 11-6A behind Duncanville, Waxahachie and Mansfield. Heritage was runner-up behind Midlothian in 15-5A.
Ellison
Ellison is in the playoffs for the 14th consecutive year, clinching its spot with two weeks left in the regular season –– a more comfortable approach compared to 2025 when the Lady Eagles had to survive a three-team play-in to reach the postseason.
“One of the biggest things we focused on this year was prioritizing our standards over our feelings, especially in critical moments during games. We wanted our girls to understand that no matter what was happening emotionally or on the scoreboard, we had standards to uphold and a job to do,” Ellison head coach Shirelle Givens said.
The next job on the to-do list is replicating the result versus the Lady Jaguars during last year’s first-round encounter in which the Lady Eagles notched a thrilling five-set win for the program’s first bi-district title in 40 years.
“I think the biggest difference this season was our girls’ dedication to the goals they set for themselves, both for each match and for the season,” Givens said. “We emphasized trusting each other, committing to the process, and holding each other accountable.”
Ellison has lost just three times since Aug. 27, and two of those were against 16-5A champion and state-ranked Liberty Hill.
Five players recorded at least 100 digs this season, including Saniya Standford (100), Sabra Cannie (200), Ja’Lya Swiney (200), Alyssa Perez (250) and Gianna Soto (350). Aaliyah Lee and Swiney each eclipsed 200 kills, and Soto had more than 250 during the regular season.
“They understand the expectations that come with wearing this jersey, but we also emphasize that past success doesn’t guarantee future success,” Givens said. “Each year, it’s about setting our own goals and putting in the work to earn what we accomplish. This group did a great job embracing that mindset and building on the foundation that was set before them.”
Chaparral
The Lady Bobcats have appeared in the playoffs every year since the school opened in 2022 –– four times at the Class 5A level and now once at the 6A level in its debut in the state’s highest classification.
They advanced this time around with first-year head coach Amber Kepler at the helm. Of the previous four appearances, the Lady Bobcats moved past the bi-district phase once when they went three rounds deep in 2024.
“I think having a history of making the playoffs gives these girls something to take pride in, but it also gives them something to work toward. They know there is an expectation to compete and continue building on what the players before them have accomplished. One thing I've really tried to emphasize this year is that we don't want to just maintain the standard, we want to raise it,” Kepler said.
“Making the playoffs is always a goal, but we want to be a program that continues to grow and makes a name for itself. I think this group has really bought into that mentality.”
Kepler was an assistant for three seasons under coach Sarah Neal, who guided the program from its inception through the 2025 campaign. Kepler said the familiarity between her and the players helped smooth the transition, and the team quickly bought into some of the changes she incorporated.
Along the way, the Lady Bobcats recorded a program-record 29 victories and finished third in a competitive District 12-6A.
“I wanted the girls to understand that I believed in them and knew they were capable of accomplishing something special together. I think what really clicked was getting them to believe that for themselves,” Kepler said. “We focused on accountability, competing for each other, and building confidence. Once they started trusting the process and realizing what they could accomplish together, things began to fall into place.”
Senior setter Caoimhe Gormley established a new Chaparral career assists record by surpassing 1,000, while fellow senior Joy Beaver set the single-season kills record with 290.
Among the other individual milestones that enhanced the team’s overall production this season include Jada Jean reaching 500 digs, Sariyah Wilson topping 200 digs and 300 kills, Zinnia Boyd passing 600 assists, and Chloe Robinson landing 200 kills. Penelope Groover and Christina Williams each recorded 100 blocks.
“While the individual records are exciting, what makes them even more special is how each of these girls has contributed to our team’s success and helped raise the standard,” Kepler said.