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Just thought I would give you a little information on one of the Class 3A volleyball teams from East Texas. Lindale Lady Eagles. They have finished their District play 8-0. With a season record 29-6 to date. It is my feelings that this team very well could be at the State tournament. With 7 returning players, 5 of those Starting players, this team is quietly winning alot of games. Do they have what is needed to take it to the next level? Time will tell. - Donna (posted 10/29/02)

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Have you heard anything about Manor High School's volleyball team? - "Volleyball Fan" (posted 10/23/02)

Editor's note: Absolutely. Manor has one of the top 3A teams in the state. We'll give you our thoughts on their chances of making it to the Final Four next week in our special Playoff Preview.

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I agree with the post about Emiliee on Prairieland. She should have been that list. Most of first and second team were right on, but some of the names on your honorable mention list were laughable. Have you even seen some of these girls play? Also, when you do a list next year if you leave off both of Red Oak's top returners it will be more laughable. But there lots of other girls you left off. Anyways thanks for your site. Thanks for promoting HS volleyball. - Kelly, Red Oaks #1 Fan (posted 10/23/02)

Editor's note: Kelly, as always, thanks for the e-mail. There were a lot of girls that were considered who didn't make the list. It was based on consulation with coaches, college recruiters, media, club directors and our personal observations. The final selections were those athletes recognized as the state's top recruits or players we felt were due for breakout years. A few haven't performed as well as expected and a lot of newcomers - especially among freshmen and sophomores - have emerged as stars. Many of those will be recognized next year.

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I am responding to the comment someone made about small schools not getting recognized! It is true. I have seen Emilee play at the state tournament the past 2 years and she is a great player! She did get the MVP, but was not mentioned on the All-Texas team. A lot of really good exceptional athletes come from small schools and do not get recognized! Why? Emilee Bolton from Pattonville and Kassi Mikulik from Flatonia should have been chosen on that team along with the big ones! They are very good players! Oh! I am looking forward to reading about the top smaller schools and the top players in the state for the next issue! - Thank You! small town fan! (posted 10/22/02)

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Let's see, Judson smashes Churchill in two. Churchill drops 5 places. Arlington loses in two to Martin, and drops 6 places. Leander (undefeated in district until now) loses in three very close games to Round Rock, then the folowing Friday crushes McNeil 15-12, 15-2, and drops 6. Doesn't make sense to me. - Obvious Leander Fan (posted 10/22/02)

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How is Clark managing to move up in the rankings? What is the criteria? Yes, obviously, they are undefeated in district, but have you checked out their competion? What is so awesome about beating teams like Del Rio and Warren? Meanwhile a team like Boerne, who is also undefeated, still lingers way behind.

Okay, so Churchill got beat by Judson. Only their second loss all year. Seems a little dramatic to move Clark up so high and Churchill down so low when Clark hasn't even had any competition except maybe O'Connor.. and what's with their ranking, too? Judson is hotter right now than O'Connor, even with the loss to Reagan. R.- San Antonio (posted 10/22/02)

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I just wanted to know why Judson is not ranked when they have beaten Reagan and Churchill. I realize Churchill and now, Reagan have beaten Judson too, but they are both ranked, so how is Judson not ranked? It seems they are all even in district. Thanks. - Judson fan (posted 10/20/02)

Editor's note: Judson opened the season in the Top 20 and as we have mentioned a couple of times, they are one of the teams capable of causing trouble in the playoffs. However, early season losses dropped them out of the rankings and while they have had impressive wins, periodic losses (such as Friday night) have kept us from moving them back into the rankings.

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Cy Creek did not EDGE Tomball. They beat them bad the last two games 15-6 15-1. Creek's two jump servers showed the weakness of Tomball. - JH (posted 10/16/02).

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Just a reminder from the Texas Panhandle. Hey, we're still up here!!! All this area does is win state volleyball championships:
Dumas(4A) - 4 times
Hereford(4A) - 4 times
Amarillo High(5A) - 3 times

Yet year in & year out, we get no respect mainly due to lack of coverage from this area. So as you make your playoff plans, keep an eye out for the three teams mentioned above!!

Enjoy your website. It's something we've needed for a long time!! By the way, how can we get scores of Class 4A, Region One games??? - Billy (posted 10/16/02)

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Now don't get me wrong, the Houston Independent School District isn't an outstanding district when it comes to 5A volleyball, but they do have outstanding
players on the Bellaire, Lamar and Westside teams. Maybe you should highlight some of the top players on those two teams; players which represent lonestar volleyball clubs such as Club Texas and Houston Juniors and have regional and national experience. Thank you. - a proud hisd fan (posted 10/15/02)

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Just finished watching Stefanie Douglas play. Is she a junior or senior? We were told that she is going to Florida. Just curious if she is a 2003 or 2004. Very impressive in the middle. - Jacky (posted 10/14/02)

Editor's note: Stefanie (Belton High School/Block Party), an honorable mention member of our All-Texas Team, is a senior and she has a verbal commitment to Florida.

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Hey you're missing out on "one to watch" - Emilee Bolton. She was MVP 2001 State Tourney and only a Junior, TSWA "Player of the year." Maybe you don't think about recognizing Emilee because she is attending 2A Pattonville Prairiland but don't count Emilee out. She could be playing on any team you have listed on the top 20. Come on you're stuck on 5A and 4A with a touch of 3A in for good measure. Thanks. - Lady Pats Fan /Emilee fan (posted 10/14/02)

Editor's note: For all you fans of the smaller schools, we're planning a special playoff preview of the top teams and players in the state.

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Why is Boerne ranked below the following three teams they have beaten: Churchill,Clark, and Wimberley? - John (posted 10/13/02)

Editor's note: This is similar to the Stratford-Clear Creek discussion a few weeks ago. Boerne obviously has one of the top teams in the state in any classification (undefeated against 5A schools), but...In talking to coaches and other observers who follow the teams, we feel Wimberley (who split with Boerne in two meetings) has the better team right now. In fact, there are several people who have seen all the teams who think Wimberley has the best team in the Austin-San Antonio area and would be a Final Four candidate in 5A (as would Boerne). Same for Clark and Churchill. Clark has really come on since finishing third at Pearland and the return of Krystle Brydon has made them even stronger. Churchill is getting stronger and their loss to Boerne came under questionable circumstances (rally scoring in game 3). Boerne's loss to New Braunfels also hurt them. Bottom line is that all the teams are very close and are capable of beating each other or anyone else in the state.

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Don't forget to report ACES in your stats from around the state ...north texas might surprise you. - Jane, Dallas (posted 10/13/02)

Editor's note: Not all areas compile leaders in aces, but don't worry, we will report them for those areas that do.

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I was curious as to what the lag time is between when I get the email updates and when the information comes up on the site. It' s about 3 pm and the info you said was up at 8 am is still not there. Thanks Mary Jo (posted 10/13/02)

Editor's note: We usually send out the email updates about 15 minutes after the information has been posted on the site - just to make sure all the links are working. What we have discovered with AOL users is that when they go to a site they've been to before, the AOL browser posts the information from your previous visit. You will have to hit the "refresh" button (sometimes a couple of times) for the new information to be displayed. That should take care of it. Internet Explorer users don't seem to have the same problem. Hope this helps.

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Just curious. Are any of those girls (on the All-Texas team) RS or OPP. I notice that you list them all the same on players to watch but was just wondering on the top part. The reason I am asking is I have seen some really awesome RS which not only can hit as hard and put down as many kill at least percentage wise but they also are responsible for blocking the big OH of the opposition. I know in the Houston area on that Student spots message board there has been alot of talk about Langham Creeks right side and Clear Creeks RS. I know Clear Creeks RS has shut down that line pretty much and has given the OH on the oppostion only one choice and that is cutting it cross court. Anyway what about right sides. I think a team with equal power across the net with great blocking on the RS would be perfect. By the way this is coming from a parent of a younger girl wanting to start club volleyball soon. - email from Houston (posted 10/13/02)

Editor's Note: Probably the most notable right side on the All-Texas team is the state's #1 recruit Amber McCray. The problem with selecting a right side for a high school all-star team is that the best right sides (club and later in college) often play left or middle in high school where the coach needs the size. McCray, for example, plays middle for her high school team, outside in club, right side for the national team and has been recruited for the past three years as a right side, which is the position she will play next year at Florida. That's why we split the difference and listed her as an outside on the team instead of a middle. Good luck to your daughter in club.

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HOW DO YOU DETERMINE HOW MANY TEAMS THAT A TEAM LEAPS OVER. I REALIZE THAT WIMBERLY SHOULD MOVE UP AHEAD OF NEW BRAUNFELS BUT WHAT DID RED OAK DO TO FOR THEM TO GO OVER RED OAK. SHOULD THEY HAVE ALLOWED 0 PTS INSTEAD 6 IN AN 8 TOTAL IN A OTHER. BESIDES THE FACT THAT NEW BRAUNFELS LOST NEXT MATCH. YOU JUST DECIDE A OK THEY WILL JUMP RED OAK AND NO ONE ELSE. YOUR SITE IS EXCELLENT I WAS WONDERING. I THOUGHT RED OAK SHOULD HAVE MOVED UP A SPOT JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE 5 TO 10. THANKS - RED OAKS #1 FAN

Editor's note: Typically a team receives more credit when it beats a ranked team than it does for a regular victory. That's the reason Arlington made a big jump as well.

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Thank you for your coverage of St. Michael's trip to the Nike Challenge in Chicago. The Lady Crusaders finished 2-3 (14th out of 24 teams), but could of just as easily been 4-1. Even the loss to Assumption (#1 HS team in the country) was accompanied with praises about the Crusaders by the Assumption coaches and fans. For a school of 400 students competing against schools 5-10 times that size, the St. Mike's team can be proud of their accomplishments. Way to go Crusaders!!- Chip, Austin

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