Here are the district standings for all Class 2A-5A volleyball districts involving Big Country schools (through Oct. 21):
Category: Volleyball
GAME STORY: Wylie volleyball overwhelms Abilene High for 17th consecutive victory
The Wylie volleyball team cruised to its 17th consecutive victory Tuesday, sweeping Abilene High 25-11, 25-8, 25-9 at Bulldog Gym to lock up at least a share of the District 4-5A championship.
Led by junior Kiki Bolden, who finished with 19 kills on 28 attacks for an eye-popping .643 hitting percentage, the seventh-ranked Lady Bulldogs hit .463 as a team in improving to 33-4 on the season and a perfect 7-0 in league play.
Coach Shay Cox’s team will now look to clinch the district championship outright on Friday when it hosts Wichita Falls Memorial (29-8, 6-1) before kicking off what it hopes will be a lengthy playoff run next week.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tolar QB’s record-setting performance takes the top spot
It’s one thing to put up school-record numbers. It’s an entirely different thing to do it in only one half.
With his team handing Eastland a 70-12 loss last week, Tolar quarterback Briton Rice put up a performance that the THS faithful may recollect years from now.
Aside from hitting 11 of 18 passes for 282 yards, he connected on a school-record six TD passes. He also rushed for 17 yards and a seventh score to help the Rattlers improve to 4-3 and 3-1.
“Briton connected on big plays for six passing touchdowns in the 1st half and a rushing TD on the first drive of the second half,” coach Blake Mouser said. He has 17 TDs to just two interceptions on the year while averaging over 200 yards passing a game.”
And get this: Rice’s entire performance was finished after the first drive of the second half. Beyond that, Mouser began playing his reserves.
MIKE LEE’S WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Munday’s L.J. Collier marks 8th season as an NFL defensive lineman
Note: If you know of a former Big Country Prep athlete now performing in college or professional sports, contact Mike Lee at michaellee7@att.net.
Munday’s L.J. Collier is continuing his journey from a small town in Texas through a multiyear career in the NFL.
Collier has made his way from growing up in a Big Country town of 1,200 residents to playing Division I college football at TCU to the Arizona Cardinals, where he’s in his eighth NFL season as a backup defensive tackle.
Collier has played in all five Arizona games this season and made a season-high three tackles last week in a 45-21 loss to the Detroit Lions. He has seven tackles for the season and is listed as the No. 2 right defensive tackle on the Cardinals’ depth chart.
The 31-year-old Collier was a first-round draft choice of Seattle in 2019 and played four seasons with the Seahawks. Collier played in 44 games with the Seahawks, including 16 starts in 2020, when he logged 22 tackles, three sacks and two pass breakups.
AREA VOLLEYBALL STATISTICAL LEADERS (Through Oct. 14)
Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Wednesday at 7 p.m. throughout the regular season.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches. If your team is missing, please give your coach a friendly reminder to check their email and submit their stats each week by 2 p.m. on Wednesdays.
GAME STORY: Abilene High volleyball secures Pink Out sweep of rival Cooper in final home match
The Abilene High volleyball team’s final home match of the season couldn’t have gone much better that it did Tuesday, when the Lady Eagles cruised to a 25-12, 25-13, 25-14 sweep of archrival Cooper in front of a packed crowd at Eagle Gym.
Playing its annual Pink Out match to raise money toward the cancer treatment of a pair of local women, AHS (20-17 overall, 3-3 in District 4-5A) seized control early and never relinquished it in clinching a season sweep of the Lady Cougars and securing a playoff berth with two regular-season matches remaining.
Sophomore Brailey Aston paced the Lady Eagles attack with eight kills, followed by freshman Alex Sanders with five, to help the senior group of Mallon Murray, Zia Gravitt, Elizah Willis, Miela Brown, Abigail Weatherby and Kate Breckenridge to a resounding win in their final match at Eagle Gym.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Haskell’s Pinkerton takes the trifecta
After only seven weeks of football this season, Haskell senior quarterback Haegan Pinkerton has put his stamp on our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award for a third time.
Believe me, we’d prefer to share the love. But with Pinkerton’s numbers, the teen has begun to turn this thing into a game of Monopoly, and he’s wearing the top hat.
Pinkerton, who led the Indians to a 92-48 win over Munday, hit 13 of 14 passes for 264 yards and five touchdowns on Friday. But that’s only the beginning.
MIKE LEE’S WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Hardin-Simmons ‘Player of the Week’ trio all from Big Country
Note: If you know of a former Big Country Prep athlete now performing in college or professional sports, contact Mike Lee at michaellee7@att.net.
The Hardin-Simmons Cowboys swept the American Southwest Conference Player of the Week honors in football this week — and all three selections were former Big Country Preps athletes.
During HSU’s 58-0 win over the University of Fort Lauderdale last Saturday, Cowboys quarterback Ty Thompson, a sophomore from Graham, passed for 183 yards and three touchdowns. He was named the ASC Offensive Player of the Week after completing scoring passes of 40 yards and 5 yards to Jairdyn Anderson and 15 yards to Harison Brockway, who is also from Graham.
Thompson’s three touchdown passes came in the first quarter and staked HSU to a 21-0 first-quarter lead.
Thompson also rushed for 101 yards on eight carries, including a 51-yard touchdown run.
Through three official games this season, Thompson leads the Cowboys in rushing with 221 yards and three TDs. He also leads the team in passing with 694 yards and six TDs against one interception.
AREA VOLLEYBALL STATISTICAL LEADERS (Through Oct. 7)
Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Wednesday at 7 p.m. throughout the regular season.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches. If your team is missing, please give your coach a friendly reminder to check their email and submit their stats each week by 2 p.m. on Wednesdays.
GAME STORY: Cooper battles but falls in four to WF Legacy to close out first half of district play
The Cooper volleyball team closed out the first half of District 4-5A play with a 25-13, 21-25, 25-15, 25-21 loss to Wichita Falls Legacy on Tuesday, but second-year coach Kandice Williams left the Senior Night match at Cougar Gym encouraged by the fight her team displayed.
While an inability to stop extended runs eventually proved their undoing, the Lady Cougars battled through a slow start and bouts of adversity throughout the match to give themselves a chance to force a fifth set before ultimately falling in four.
The loss left CHS at 11-21 overall and 0-4 in district — one match behind Legacy (20-18, 1-3) for the fourth and final playoff spot at the midway point of league play. But Williams saw signs for hope as her team looks ahead to its final four regular-season matches.
GAME STORY: Talented youth on full display as Jim Ned outlasts Clyde in five-set thriller
CLYDE — There’s not been anything normal when the Jim Ned and Clyde volleyball teams have met on the court this season.
In their first meeting on Sept. 12, the match was held in Tuscola after a water main break in Clyde left the campus without water, resulting in a dominant sweep for the Lady Indians.
Tuesday’s rematch came less than a week after Clyde coach Courtney Freeman had an emergency surgery, and the veteran coach was still dealing with a lot of pain as she saw her squad push the 20th-ranked Lady Indians to the brink before Jim Ned pulled off a 25-19, 16-25, 25-17, 20-25, 15-12 win at Bulldog Gym.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Roby’s Weatherly takes this week’s award
Even in an otherwise “quiet” week, six-man players find a way to make a lot of noise.
With many of our teams enjoying an open week prior to district play, Knox City and Roby got into a knock-down drag-out six-man game, with the Greyhounds winning 86-80.
So great was this game, that our Big Country Preps Player of the Week emerged from the losing side of this matchup, with Roby quarterback Eli Weatherly taking our Player of the Week award for the Week ending Oct. 3
AREA VOLLEYBALL STATISTICAL LEADERS (Through Sept. 30)
Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Wednesday at 7 p.m. throughout the regular season.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches. If your team is missing, please give your coach a friendly reminder to check their email and submit their stats each week by 2 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Big Country Volleyball Standings (through Sept. 30)
Here are the district standings for all Class 2A-5A volleyball districts involving Big Country schools (through Sept. 30):
Continue reading “Big Country Volleyball Standings (through Sept. 30)”
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Graham QB Corley takes this week’s top honor
A week ago, Graham senior quarterback Cooper Corley narrowly missed taking our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award.
This time around, there was no stopping him.
Corley, who led the Steers to a 48-21 win over Peaster, hit 16 of 27 throws for 307 yards and two TDs.
He also rushed 12 times for 132 yards and four more scores and caught a 29-yard TD pass for seven touchdowns on the night.
“Very rarely do you see a kid total 7 TDs in a night and score in three different ways,” Graham coach Clay McChristian said. “He scored at least one touchdown passing, rushing, and receiving.
“That is right at 1000 total yards and 13 TDs in the last two weeks against two quality opponents.”
AREA VOLLEYBALL STATISTICAL LEADERS (Through Sept. 23)
Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Wednesday at 7 p.m. throughout the regular season.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches. If your team is missing, please give your coach a friendly reminder to check their email and submit their stats each week by 2 p.m. on Wednesdays.
GAME STORY: Wylie volleyball rolls past rival Cooper to open District 4-5A play
Hosting crosstown rival Cooper to open District 4-5A play, the Wylie volleyball team kicked off league action in dominant fashion Tuesday, sweeping the Lady Cougars 25-5, 25-12, 25-13 at Bulldog Gym.
It was the 11th consecutive victory and 21st in the last 22 matches for the Lady Bulldogs, who are now 27-4 on the year.
Cooper, which split a pair of five-set matches on Saturday with Brownwood and Midland Lee, fell to 11-18 overall and 0-1 in district play with Tuesday’s loss.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Goldthwaite safety takes the top spot
Who says defensive players can’t win Big Country Preps Player of the Week?
Goldthwaite’s Owen Campbell silenced that opinion with an extraordinary effort against previously unbeaten De Leon last week after charting an eyebrow-raising 22 tackles in a 24-13 win.
MIKE LEE’S WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Stephenville’s Eakin helps Tech rally past Oregon State
Note: If you know of a former Big Country Prep athlete now performing in college or professional sports, contact Mike Lee at michaellee7@att.net.
Coy Eakin led Texas Tech in receiving and scored the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter last Saturday as the nationally ranked Red Raiders rallied past the Oregon State Beavers 35-24 in Corvallis, Oregon.
Eakin, a fifth-year receiver from Stephenville, caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Will Hammond that rallied Texas Tech to a 28-24 lead with 6:31 left in the game. The Red Raiders eventually won 35-24.
Nine Tech players caught passes last week, and the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Eakin led the Red Raiders in receiving with six catches for 79 yards.
Tech, 2-0 and ranked No. 13 in this week’s Associated Press poll, hosts No. 22 Houston (2-0) at 7 p.m. Friday — yes, Friday — on FOX.
AREA VOLLEYBALL STATISICAL LEADERS (through Sept. 16)
Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Wednesday at 7 p.m. throughout the regular season.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches. If your team is missing, please give your coach a friendly reminder to check their email and submit their stats each week by 2 p.m. on Wednesdays.
GAME STORY: Wall volleyball rallies to beat Jim Ned in four to score big district road win
TUSCOLA — Traveling to Jim Ned with at least a share of the District 5-3A lead on the line, the Wall volleyball team left Bill Thornton Arena with a big road win Tuesday night, digging out of an early hole to score a 23-25, 25-16, 25-14, 25-18 victory over the Lady Indians.
Taking advantage of a stellar defensive effort both at the net and on the back row, the Lady Hawks were dominant after the opening game, improving 20-4 overall and 2-0 in league play with the win.
The outcome puts WHS in a first-place tie with San Angelo TLCA (16-10, 2-0) — a half-match ahead of both Jim Ned (21-6, 2-1) and Clyde (14-11, 2-1).
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Clyde’s Wright takes this week’s award
It’s still too early to say, but 2026 could be the year of the quarterback in the Big Country. At least it has been that way through three weeks, with Clyde senior Devan Wright taking our latest Big Country Player of the Week award after another eye-popping performance from an area signal caller.
In the wake of Haskell’s Haegan Pinkerton winning our first two awards with two huge performances in Week 1 and Week 2, Wright followed those up with one of his own in a 57-21 win over Comanche on Friday.
Helping Clyde improve to 3-0, Wright connected on 12 of 18 throws for 194 yards and four scores. He also rushed nine times for 116 yards and three more TDs, giving him a direct hand in seven touchdowns.
MIKE LEE’S WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Rigdon still making plays in college for Arizona State
NOTE: If you know of a former Big Country Prep athlete now performing in college or professional sports, contact Mike Lee at michaellee7@att.net.
Grayson Rigdon is listed as the No. 3 running back on the Arizona State football depth chart, but the former Strawn-Benjamin High School player scored two long-distance touchdowns in the Sun Devils’ 70-7 season-opening win over Morgan State last Saturday.
The 5-foot-11 sophomore scored on receptions of 54 and 56 yards. On both touchdowns, quarterback Cutter Boley threw to Rigdon coming out of the backfield, and he used his running skills to turn the short receptions into long touchdowns.
Rigdon’s first touchdown extended ASU’s lead to 35-7 early in the second quarter. His second score made it 56-7 early in the third quarter.
In addition to the two receptions for 110 yards, Rigdon finished Saturday’s game with four carries for 22 yards rushing and one kickoff return for 18 yards.
The Sun Devils play at No. 10-ranked Texas A&M at 11 a.m. Saturday on ABC-TV.
As an ASU freshman last season, Rigdon played on special teams in six games. He also had two carries and one reception in the Sun Devils’ Sun Bowl loss to Duke.
GAME STORY: Abilene High volleyball struggles to find rhythm in home loss to Midland Lee
With two weeks to go before the start of District 4-5A play, the Abilene High volleyball team hosted an old Little Southwest Conference rival Tuesday, falling to the MIdland Lee Lady Rebels 25-22, 25-5, 25-15 at Eagle Gym.
The Lady Eagles dug out of an early hole to take a 22-20 lead in the opening game, but a 5-0 Lee run out of a timeout sent the momentum to the visitors side and it never shifted back in a tough match for the home team.
The loss dropped AHS to 15-13 on the year with three nondistrict matches to play before it opens its league schedule with a home match against Wichita Falls Memorial on Sept. 22.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Pinkerton takes his second award in as many weeks
We prefer to not have the same athlete win our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award in successive weeks, given that it is our aim to share the love. But every now and then, the numbers simply make that impossible.
So here we have it: Haskell’s Haegen Pinkerton has won our accolade twice in as many weeks, and deservedly so after leading the Indians to a 62-44 win at Bangs on Friday.
GAME STORY: Wylie sweeps Abilene Christian in showcase of local volleyball contenders
Two local volleyball teams in the midst of outstanding seasons met Thursday, when Class 5A No. 11 Wylie hosted Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools Class 3A contender Abilene Christian.
In the end, the Lady Bulldogs were too much for the Lady Panthers, earning a 25-14, 25-8, 25-9 sweep, but both teams left Bulldog Gym feeling good about the effort they put into the match and their chances of achieving their broader goals this season.
Wylie, which has now won 18 of its last 19 matches, was happy to take care of business on its home floor on a night marked by individual milestones. And ACS, which opened TAPPS 3A District 1 play with a sweep of Burton Adventist Academy on Tuesday, was happy to be exposed to a team of the Lady Bulldogs’ quality as it embarks on the most important stretch of its season.
GAME STORY: Surging Wylie volleyball squad takes care of Midland Christian at home
The Wylie volleyball team continued its outstanding start the season Tuesday, sweeping Midland Christian in a rare home match to claim its sixth consecutive win and 17th victory in its last 18 matches.
Playing at Bulldog Gym for the first time this season, the Lady Bulldogs downed the Lady Mustangs 21-9, 25-21, 27-25 to improve to 22-4 on the year.
After dominating the opening set, WHS rallied from a 20-14 deficit in Game 2 and dug out of a 23-21 hole in the deciding third set, fighting off game point to end the match in three.
GAME STORY: Big Country Christians put on a show in FCA volleyball match
ABILENE — They didn’t have much time to shake off the ring rust, but both teams involved in the Bev Ball All-Star Volleyball Classic at Wylie High School.
Part of the Day 1 lineup of this year’s Big Country Fellowship of Christian Athletes All-Star Festival, the Bev Ball Classic saw the Blue All-Stars rally to top the Red 17-25, 29-27, 15-8 to take this year’s title. This, after splitting a pair of warm-up games with Blue winning 25-20 and Red taking Game 2 25-21.
Wall’s Emery Harper had 10 kills and an ace and Abilene High’s Olivia Weatherford had six kills, three blocks and an ace to lead the Blue team, which rallied from a 6-5 deficit with a 10-2 run to win Game 3.
The Red team was led by Match MVP Aniah Hines, who nearly took over the contest with 17 kills, four blocks and five aces.
“I don’t even have the words,” said Abilene High’s Emily Gravitt, who coached the blue team. “The girls were such a blessing, the atmosphere was such a blessing and the FCA is an incredible organization.”
UIL REALIGNMENT: Big changes coming for area hoops, volleyball teams while locals left in familiar five-team district
While football programs see most of the attention for the University Interscholastic League’s biennial realignment focused on them, the big event also has ramifications for volleyball and basketball teams at the same time.
Monday morning, those coaches also learned their fates for the next two years and had a wide range of reactions — from relief to shock to seeing their expectations met.
2025 BIG COUNTRY PREPS MAX EFFORT TEAM: The hardest-working players in area volleyball!
While our All-Big Country Preps Volleyball team is in place to honor those who achieved the most on-court success, our “Max Effort” team is something much more uncommon.
This is a special accolade, which has nothing to do with talent or stats.
It is here where character, grit and work ethic — traits that coaches wish every player had — are recognized. It is here where we honor the best teammates and best citizens that area volleyball has to offer.
It is for that reason that this team is selected by area coaches and described in their own words.
Big Country Preps is now honored to present these individuals to you — the hardest-working, toughest volleyball players in our coverage area.
Ladies and gentlemen: Our 2025 Big Country Preps Max Effort Team.
All-Big Country Preps Superlatives: Donaldson, Bolden, Mock, Graves and Branch nab awards
Here are our superlative award winners for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps volleyball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
2025 All-Big Country Preps Volleyball Team: First-Team Roster
Here are our first-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps volleyball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
2025 All-Big Country Preps Volleyball Team: Second-Team Roster
Here are our second-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps volleyball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
2025 All-Big Country Preps Volleyball Team: Third-Team Roster (w/ honorable mention)
Here are our third-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps volleyball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
2025 All-Big Country Preps Volleyball Rising Stars Team: The top freshmen and sophomores in the area!
Here is our 2025 All-Big Country Preps volleyball Rising Stars Team, comprised of the top freshmen and sophomores in the area. For the rest of this year’s volleyball selections, click the links below.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Goldthwaite’s Owen Campbell earns this week’s accolade
It’s been a good while since a Goldthwaite Eagle snagged our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award in any sport. But sophomore Owen Campbell obliterated that streak with a fabulous effort in a 61-0 rout of Meridian on Friday.
His performance came on both sides of the ball, beginning with 12 carries for 144 yards and four touchdowns from his running back position.
Defensively Campbell charted eleven tackles, including seven solos, four assists and an interception from the GHS secondary.
“Owen had a tremendous game on Friday where he contributed to our win,” coach Andy Howard said. “He made a huge impact in all three phases of the game. He plays a huge role for us every week on defense, offense and on special teams.
“He continues to grow and improve as a player every week. I am proud of Owen but proud of everyone around him as well.”
2025 VOLLEYBALL STAT LEADERS: Our final stat leaders list for the 2025 regular season
Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Wednesday at 7 p.m. throughout the regular season.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.
Big Country volleyball playoff pairings, results (Final)
Here are the final Big Country volleyball playoff pairings and results:
Continue reading “Big Country volleyball playoff pairings, results (Final)”
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wall quarterback Landon York snags this week’s accolade
What more can be said about the performance of Wall senior Landon York last week other than it was a model of efficiency?
Our Big Country Preps Player of the Week shredded Grape Creek in a 48-0 district win to clinch the District 4-3A DII championship.
Along the way, York connected on 18 of 21 throws for 246 yards and get this: seven touchdowns. That means one out of every three throws resulted in points.
How good of a night did he have? How about a ridiculous quarterback rating of 294.1?
Volleyball statistical leaders (through Oct. 22)
Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Wednesday at 7 p.m. throughout the regular season.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.
FEATURE: Multi-talented Maidens raising the standard, expectations for Comanche volleyball program
Photos courtesy of Krista Wilcox
After earning a playoff spot for the first time in nearly a decade last fall, the Comanche Maidens volleyball team is already a lock for postseason play in 2025.
Though Comanche fell in three sets on Tuesday to perennial District 8-3A champion Peaster, the Maidens are 27-8 overall and 9-4 in league play. Riding a five-game win streak to open district, they set a highly competitive tone that helped them clinch back-to-back playoff berths under second-year coach Krista Wilcox.
Even so, Wilcox said there is a big difference in how her team is approaching a prospective run into November compared to the way they did it in 2024.
GAME STORY: LaCoix shines for Wylie in Senior Night sweep of crosstown rival Abilene High
Being honored as the lone senior on the Wylie volleyball team, Avery LaCroix made her final home match a memorable one Tuesday evening, putting on a Senior Night show in a 25-13, 25-10, 25-13 win over crosstown rival Abilene High.
The versatile hitter put up a team-high 11 kills with a remarkable .688 hitting percentage while contributing a team high-tying three blocks (1 solo, 2 assists) to fuel a dominant effort for the Lady Bulldogs, who stayed unbeaten in District 4-5A play heading into a huge match at Wichita Falls Memorial on Friday.
The victory, which improved WHS to 31-7 overall and 7-0 in league action, was the 11th in a row for coach Shay Cox’s team, which has a chance to secure its second consecutive district title with one more win.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Forsan’s Hayden Bowlin takes the top spot
Forsan senior Hayden Bowlin had a career night last Friday and picked up our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award in the process.
To begin with, the FHS QB rushed for 280 yards and five scores in last week’s 60-27 win over Colorado City. Aside from that, he threw for 59 yards, he returned a punt 75 yards for a sixth TD and had a 34-yard kickoff return to give him 389 all-purpose yards and 36 of FHS’ points.