To help Wildcat fans out, the Wildcat Tales will preview each opponent that Plano Senior will face in the state volleyball playoffs prior to their match with the Wildcats.

For the second round of the playoffs, the Wildcat Tales staff introduces Plano’s opposition, the Colleyville Heritage Panthers.

School – Colleyville Heritage High School.

Location – Colleyville, Texas (Population: 24,500).

Location of Playoff Game – Little Elm High School (Little Elm, Texas). 19 miles NW. of Plano Senior.

Division – UIL 6A – District 7.

Record – 13-13 overall record (4th in 6A – District 7). Defeated South Grand Prairie 3-0 in bi-district round of UIL Playoffs.

Analysis – After defeating the Denton Guyer Wildcats in four sets in the Bi-District Round, Plano will face the Colleyville Heritage Panthers in the Area Round. The match will feature two teams that finished fourth in their respective districts, with a spot in the regional quarter-final round on the line on Friday night at Little Elm High School.

The Panthers have a pair of wins against District 6-6A schools this season after defeating Flower Mound and Lewisville as part of their non-district schedule. In district play, they struggled against the majority of the teams in a competitive District 7-6A, losing twice to district winner Southlake Carroll, whom Plano defeated in August.

Sophomore outside hitter Lauren Evans is the kill leader for Colleyville Heritage, accumulating almost 400 of them over the course of the season. Assisting Evans for most of these kills has been senior setter Katherine Anthony, who averages five assists per game.  

In terms of blocks, it is freshman middle hitter Jill Dickens that has supplied the Panthers with a net presence, totaling 44 blocks this season. Varsity head coach Hollie Huston’s team will look to spring the upset on Plano on Friday night, with the winner facing either Hebron or Coppell in the area quarter-final round.

Key Players – OH Lauren Evans (Soph.), S Katherine Anthony (Sr.), MH Jill Dickens (Fresh.).

Playoff Game Info – Colleyville Heritage and Plano will play their UIL area round match on Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. at Little Elm High School.