Although Westlake (35-6) faces a surprising foe in Tuesday’s Class 5A Region IV quarterfinal contest, a win could prove a tall task.

Buoyed by 6-foot-1-inch middle blocker Dempsey Thornton, Corpus Christi King (34-4) upset San Antonio Churchill in four games Friday to set up a third-round playoff matchup with the Chaps Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Floresville High School. Thornton, ranked one of the top 50 junior middles in the nation by MaxPreps, had 15 kills and dominated the net defensively in the win over state-ranked Churchill. She is the reigning Player of the Year in the Coastal Bend area, according to the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, and provides a formidable defensive front.

The Mustangs leaned on its defense while recording a second consecutive District 27-5A championship this season. Erika Rojas had 27 digs against Churchill and anchors a scrappy back row.