The Wylie Lady Pirates went 7-1 and tied for fifth out of 66 teams at the Volleypalooza tournament in the Austin area over the weekend.
Wylie (20-3), ranked No. 6 in the Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) Class 6A state poll, dropped only one match across three days of competition, according to the Wylie News.
Senior outside hitter Julia Hudgins earned all-tournament honors. Hudgins, a Lamar University pledge, stuffed the stat sheet with 101 kills, 69 digs, seven blocks and six service aces across eight matches.
She had plenty of help. Senior libero Jolene Bao, the reigning District 9-6A Defensive Player of the Year, anchored the back row with a team-high 139 digs. Senior Paloma Smith added 28 kills and 17 digs, and junior Berkeley Weidinger ran the offense with 93 assists and 26 digs.
The Lady Pirates' only loss came against nationally ranked Prestonwood Christian on the tournament's final day. Wylie answered in its next match, outlasting previously unbeaten Antonian Prep 25-27, 25-23, 25-23 to close the weekend on a high note.
That resilience has been a theme under head coach Sherry Olivares. After the season-opening wins on Aug. 12, Olivares said the team's character showed early.
"I knew them responding in an early match was part of our team's character … They are resilient," Olivares said after those August wins.
The 7-1 tournament run extends a strong preseason for a program coming off a 30-win 2025 campaign that included an undefeated 16-0 district championship. The Lady Pirates have now won 20 of their first 23 matches.
Wylie opens District 9-6A play Friday, Sept. 4 against Rowlett.
