By Thomas Jones, Sports Editor

Although a depleted Chap lineup confirmed a handful of facts during a hectic schedule last week, one question still looms over the squad.

How will Westlake adjust to the presence of all-state hitter Sara Shaw?

Overall, the Chaps (11-4) have managed well without Shaw, who has missed most of the season with an ankle injury. Westlake has beaten state-ranked Westwood and pushed Amarillo to five games in the finals of the Duncanville tournament.

Saturday, the Chaps dispatched No. 3 San Antonio O’Connor before falling to top-ranked San Antonio Reagan in the finals of the Fraulein Volleyfest in New Braunfels.

That setback confirmed what the Rattlers had shown three days earlier: Without Shaw, the Chaps haven’t been competitive with Reagan. 

Westlake suffered a home sweep to the Rattlers Aug. 19 and lost 25-17, 25-15 Saturday, and the return of Shaw won’t guarantee a more competitive match, said Westlake coach Al Bennett.

“We can’t assume Sara will be the difference against Reagan,” he said. “This team is building chemistry right now without Sara, and when she returns, it will change our rotation. Roles will change for everyone.”

Shaw, who will likely see spot action in this week’s Pearland tournament, had plenty of company on the sidelines at Fraulein Volleyfest. Outside hitter Jennifer Schuler and starting middle blocker Hannah Kolar both missed the tournament, but both could return to action as early as this week, said Bennett.

Despite those absences, a sterling defensive effort carried the Chaps to the tournament finals. Libero Tessa Hunt (61 digs in 10 games) and Paige Caridi (27 digs, 27 kills) both received all-tournament honors and helped Westlake earn a handful of impressive wins.  The Chaps opened the tournament with victories over Victoria Memorial (25-10, 25-14) and Vista Ridge (25-11, 25-12) before blasting a solid Georgetown team 25-10, 25-15 in the quarterfinals.

Westlake then delivered what Bennett called “our most impressive performance of the season” with a 25-23, 25-15 win over O’Connor in the semifinals. The team carried that momentum into the Reagan match by seizing a 7-4 lead in the first game.

“But then the wheels fell off,” Bennett said. “We just made too many errors.”

The Chaps had 11 hitting errors against Reagan after averaging just six hitting errors in their other matches.

Ella Praisner paced the Chaps with 30 kills and a 54-kill percentage in the five matches. Hannah Hood returned from an injury with 24 kills and 35 digs, and middle blocker Kenzie Hume had 15 kills and nine blocks.

 

New and notes

Westlake is third in the latest Class 5A rankings by the Texas Girls Coaches Association. … Tessa Hunt had nine of Westlake’s 23 aces at Fraulein Volleyfest. … Erin Bula received extended playing time at middle blocker and had nine blocks and seven kills. … Avery Edwards had 57 assists in nine games at Fraulein Volleyfest while rotating in Westlake’s 6-2 set. Amanda Welsh had 27 assists in 10 games, while Jennifer Astrachan dished out 10 assists in three games. Coach Al Bennett credited all three setters for their defense.