4 questions for teams in the Austin area

The UIL Texas High School Volleyball State Playoffs begin Monday as Austin-area teams hope to extend their season by at least one more game.

Most schools in Central Texas play their bidistrict competition on Tuesday, and regional round games take place Thursday through Saturday.

There is a new feature in the playoffs this year: As in football, each classification will be split into two divisions, so the number of state champions will double. There are also no regional tournament locations and the state semifinals are played separately from the state championship games.

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Here are four questions the Austin region must address as the postseason begins.

Will the Austin region get a state title?

Yes. Dripping Springs and Wimberley have very good chances to win Division II in Classes 6A and 4A, respectively. The Tigers have a deep roster of players who will play at Power 4 schools over the next two years, while Wimberley hasn’t lost to a Class 4A Division II team all season. One of these two – or perhaps both? – was supposed to lift a trophy in three weeks.

What other team could reach the state finals in Dallas?

That’s a difficult question. Westlake would have been better served in Class 6A Division II, but Georgetown, Weiss and Cedar Park have every chance to make deep runs in Division II Class 5A.

I’m picking Cedar Park, which is coming off a tough win in District 25-5A and doesn’t appear to have any weaknesses.

Who are the dark horse teams in the Austin area?

Keep an eye on Hays in Class 5A Division I. The Hawks could easily end up in the regional semifinals and won’t be intimidated by anyone after facing Liberty Hill, Rouse and Cedar Park in district play.

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Johnson in Class 6A Division I appears to be flying under the radar despite his win in District 29.

Anderson, which swept District 24-5A, played mostly against Class 6A teams in non-district games and, like Hays, isn’t fazed by the playoffs.

What are the best first round games?

Round Rock vs. Lake Travis in Class 6A Division I. The two largest schools in the Austin area and two traditional volleyball powers meet at the Burger Center in a tense atmosphere with thousands of spectators.

Austin High at Vandegrift in Class 6A Division II has two teams with plenty of talent. The Maroons have a 39-6 record and defeated Lake Travis and beat Westlake in district play, while Vandegrift appears to be overlooked despite the win in District 25-6A.

Both teams have the potential to reach the regional finals.

This article originally appeared on the Austin American-Statesman: Texas High School Volleyball Playoffs: 4 Questions for the Austin Region