Lady Dawgs still have their playoff hopes
Wimberley, with a blistering 3-0 payback sweep, put the Lady Dawgs, once the queens of the court, on life support Oct. 21. Burnet’s chances for survival as a playoff qualifier hinge on a few critical antidotes with only one district game remaining, a home-court clash with Liberty Hill 7 p.m. Tuesday at The Doghouse, 1000 The Green Mile. The two teams still have playoff hopes but are vying for the remaining spot.
Liberty Hill had to beat Wimberley Friday to tie Burnet (8-3). Otherwise, the Lady Dawgs would qualify for the playoffs regardless of the outcome of their last match because they would finish the season with only four loses at worst.
Nothing, however, was a given in the Liberty Hill-Wimberley contest. Wimberley got past Liberty Hill in its earlier match in four sets, 25-20, 25-13, 26-28 and 25-16. In September, Liberty Hill was ranked 11th statewide on the Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 3A poll and made it as high as a top-five team in other regional media polls with extraordinary hitters.
If Liberty Hill beat Wimberley to move their record to 7-4, Burnet would have to beat the Lady Panthers Tuesday to qualify for postseason play.
If Liberty Hill beat Wimberley and Burnet, the Lady Panthers and Lady Dawgs would tie with 8-4 records. Liberty Hill would advance by virtue of two regular season wins over Burnet unless a tie-breaker is scheduled.
“There has been some discussion on tie-breakers but nothing for sure,” said Burnet head volleyball coach Bethany Grissom. “It is just coaches trying to plan ahead.”
Wimberley (9-1) and Fredericksburg (7-3) are expected to claim two of the three playoff berths with the third still undecided. Wimberley closes its regular schedule next week against Ingram, while Fredericksburg still has Ingram and Llano on its schedule.
Districts are required to certify their playoff teams by Nov. 1 with bi-district playoffs to get under way Nov. 3-4.