By Thomas Jones, Sports Editor

A violation of UIL rules by a regional rival did no favors for Westlake.

The Chaps will open the playoffs Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Lehman High School in Hays County against traditionally tough New Braunfels, a battle-tested team that earned another playoff spot despite moving into a brutal District 26-5A during January’s realignment.

The Unicorns provide one of the stiffest opening tests for this decade for the Chaps. New Braunfels tallied a 25-13 overall record, including an 11-5 district mark in a conference that includes top-five ranked San Antonio Churchill and San Antonio Reagan.

However, New Braunfels had to forfeit two District 26-5A games after using an ineligible player early in the season in those contests, according to the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. The Unicorns would have tied Smithson Valley for third place, but the two losses gave Smithson Valley sole possession of the third seed and gave New Braunfels an official record of 23-15 and 9-7.

A combination of tradition and talent make New Braunfels a formidable foe. The Unicorns won Class 4A state titles in 2000 and 2005, and they boast a pair of experienced playmakers.

Andrea Hannasch, a 6-foot-2-inch senior middle blocker, averages 4.88 kills per game. Classmate leads all San Antonio-area players with 9.55 assists per game.