Westlake may not have claimed the title at Duncanville’s prestigious Tournament of Champions, but the Chaps did reaffirm their status as one of the state’s elite programs.

With many traditional Class 5A programs struggling in the early-season tournament, Westlake (7-1) clawed its way to Saturday’s finals before falling to powerful Richardson Pearce, a Class 4A program ranked in the top five in the state by LoneStarVolleyball.com. The setback gave Westlake its first loss of the season, but it won’t likely knock the Chaps from their spot atop the LoneStarVolleyball.com’s Class 5A poll.

Pearce’s massive front line helped the Mustangs to a 25-19, 25-15, 25-27, 25-22 win in the finals. Pearce rallied from an 18-13 deficit to take the first set and appeared poised for the sweep after an overpowering effort in the second set.

However, outside hitters Paige Caridi and Cailin Bula helped the Chaps edge the Mustangs in the third set before falling in four.

Caridi, who led the Chaps in kills in the tournament, earned a spot on the all-tournament team. Chap senior libero Tessa Hunt earned the tournament’s Outstanding Defensive Player honor.

The Chaps opened the tournament with a 25-19, 25-21 win over Keller. They topped stout McKinney Boyd 25-15, 20-25, 25-13 in the second round and beat state-ranked Amarillo Tascosa 16-25, 25-18, 25-18 in round three. Westlake then swept Coppell 25-22, 25-19 in the semifinals.

Defending Class 5A champion Amarillo, which fell to Magnolia in the quarterfinals, had won four of the previous five Tournament of Champions titles.

All-tournament honors

MVP – Stephanie Holland, Pearce
Outstanding Setter – Caylin Mahoney, Keller Central
Outstanding Offense – Shelby Sullivan, Pearce
Outstanding Defensive Player – Tessa Hunt, Westlake

All-Tournament team
Katie O’Brien, Pearce
Paige Caridi, Westlake
Andi Malloy, Lovejoy
Kiara Wright, Clear Lake
Caitlin Nolan, Southlake Carroll
Cassie Wahlin, Keller
Margeaux Mendenhall, Highland Park
Lizzie Theesfold, Flower Mound
Courtney Felinski, Magnolia
Megan Kennedy, Coppell
Katie Neisler, Marcus,
Shane Peters, Plano West