Dripping Springs aiming for state volleyball title

The top ranked Dripping Springs volleyball team is right where they expected to be. The talented Tigers are in the state tournament for the third straight year and they’re hoping that this year will be different.

Player Morgyn Greer says, “Whenever we were thinking of a theme this year. We were, some of us were joking like third times a charm.  Like this is our year."

Head volleyball coach Michael Kane agrees with Greer.

Dripping Springs head volleyball coach Michael Kane says, “I know anything short of being here would've been a disappointment.  Getting here is now great.  And now our focus is trying to win."

"Lost in the state semifinals two years ago.  In the state finals last year.  So each year and each match they've kind of reflected on that.  We remind ourselves that we didn't finish what we wanted to do," Kane adds.

The Tigers are definitely the favorites to win it all. The team has four future Division I players and it’s the only one of the top four teams in Class 5A to make it to the state tournament.

If Dripping Springs wins they’ll get to do something that’s been 21 years in the making.

Kane says, "It's all about hanging banners and hanging a picture on the wall, a state championship photo that'll never come down. And it's definitely a goal. Sometimes kind of an inside joke saying working on getting our photo on the wall."

That photo is on the minds of players as well.

Greer says, "We are ready to get that picture.  It is our year.  So we're ready."

Ashley Waggle says, “"It would be amazing.  Getting our picture up on that wall would definitely be leaving our statement here at this school."

The team has already made a statement.

Autumn Rounsaville says, "Coming back for the third year in a row is just something that's so crazy and unbelievable."

But they all want to take that next step.

"We got third place and second.  We're definitely expecting first this year," Waggle says.

"There's been a definite underlying that anytime I needed to challenge them.  Is just to remind them that yes we've been to the state tournament the last few years.  But you haven't won it.  So there's still some meat on the bone so to speak that we gotta go out and get.  So I think that's helped with this group," Kane says.

Dripping Springs will take on Canyon Randall Friday (11/20) in the state semis in Garland. Game starts at 2 p.m.