Oklahoma high school volleyball storylines, stars at Class 6A-5A state tournaments

Kelli Miller knows how long the Bishop McGuinness volleyball program has been waiting for another state title.

In 2003, Miller was a junior outside hitter on McGuinness’ first team to win a Class 5A volleyball championship.

The Fighting Irish haven’t taken the crown since, but 20 years later, head coach Miller is striving to change that. She and assistant Megan Janda, the libero from the 2003 team, are leading a top-seeded McGuinness squad into this year’s state tournament.

Last season, the Fighting Irish made a solid run but fell to powerhouse Mount St. Mary in the state finals. With the Rockets in Class 6A this year, McGuinness (28-4) has emerged as the 5A favorite. Defending 4A champion Tulsa Lincoln Christian is also in the mix after moving up a class.

“The approach remains the same in that we want to be disciplined in our goals and disciplined in the things that we want to accomplish,” Miller said. “And then everything else will happen as it will.”

With nine seniors, the Irish can lean on experience. The lone Oklahoma City-area team in the 5A bracket, McGuinness opens state tournament play against eighth-seeded Sapulpa on Thursday afternoon in the Tulsa Union High School Gym.

Simultaneously, Class 6A quarterfinal matches will take place in the Union Multipurpose Activity Center (UMAC) on Tulsa Union’s campus. Here’s a look at more storylines and players to watch in the 6A-5A state tournaments:

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Edmond Memorial aims to defend 6A title

During the past season, Edmond Memorial’s volleyball team made the climb from underdog to top dog.

Although they weren’t preseason favorites, the Bulldogs broke out as Class 6A state champions. This year, everyone knew to watch Edmond Memorial (27-5), so the team has dealt with extra pressure trying to defend its trophy.

“They needed to go through some adversity this year,” said coach Natalie Murray. “Face some challenges, face some losses to understand that it’s still within their grasp, but they’re gonna have to really work hard for it because there’s a lot of teams that are coming for them.”

After falling to Deer Creek in late September, the Bulldogs put together a five-match win streak that culminated with a regional sweep of Westmoore. Next, fourth-seeded Edmond Memorial meets No. 5 Broken Arrow in the state quarterfinals, and the programs are 1-1 against each other this season.

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Mount St. Mary strives to cap 6A debut with crown

Mount St. Mary has stayed afloat in the largest classification of Oklahoma high school volleyball.

Although the Rockets have around 300 students, they moved up to Class 6A this year. The jump happened because of the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association’s Rule 14, which elevates private schools based on sustained postseason success.

The third-seeded Rockets have adapted quickly, carrying a 37-3 record into the 6A state tournament. After winning back-to-back 5A crowns, they have their eyes on the highest prize.

“Basically, there’s a lot more depth in 6A,” said coach James Ward. “Athletes are pretty good on every 6A team. It’s just one of those things where we can never let down during a 6A match, or we might end up getting beaten.”

Jenks has been the sole 6A team to topple the Rockets, claiming two of their three regular-season matchups.

Mount St. Mary’s other loss came to a Texas team during an early-season tournament. Since then, the Rockets have compiled a notable resume featuring wins against Owasso, Norman North and Tulsa Bishop Kelley, their state quarterfinal opponent.

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Deer Creek looks to make program history

Deer Creek has qualified for state every year since 2012, but a championship has eluded the Antlers.

This season, second-year coach Hayley Aquino leads a team with the momentum to make history. Boosted by the arrival of Colorado move-in Emma Converse, the top-seeded Antlers enter the Class 6A state tournament on a 13-match win streak.

“I’m thankful that we’re peaking at the right time,” Aquino said. “They all have truly bought into the process. They have grinded it out in practice and have been extremely hardworking, and (I) just have noticed a shift in their discipline and their coachability through the end of the season.”

The Antlers (29-5) swept Lawton Eisenhower and Piedmont to reach the state tournament, and they meet eighth-seeded Edmond North in the quarterfinals.

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20 players to watch

Lolufe Adedeji, So., Edmond Memorial: Adedeji forms a dynamic duo with fellow middle blocker Annie Hopkins. They have the Bulldogs’ best kill percentages.

Emma Converse, Sr., Deer Creek: Since moving from Colorado, Converse has burst onto the Oklahoma high school volleyball scene with 409 kills, 310 digs and 55 aces. She’s a University of Buffalo commit.

Sydney Dunkleberger, Jr., Edmond North: Dunkleberger has 698 assists as the Huskies' setter.

Ally Fees, Sr., Mount St. Mary: Despite dealing with injury this season, Fees has continued to spark the Rockets with 316 kills, 180 digs and 27 aces.

Emma Gatewood, Sr., Edmond North: A middle blocker, Gatewood has compiled 474 kills.

Ella Hale, So., Mount St. Mary: Hale has provided 363 kills, 148 digs and 26 aces.

Madi Hathaway, Sr., Edmond Memorial: Hathaway played a major role in the Bulldogs’ 2022 championship season, and her leadership has continued. She contributed 17 assists, 37 digs, five kills and two aces against Westmoore to send Edmond Memorial to this year’s state tournament.

Annie Hopkins, So., Edmond Memorial: Along with Adedeji, Hopkins has built on her breakout freshman year.

Milee Jackson, Jr., Tulsa Kelley: Jackson leads the Comets with 366 digs, and she has 362 aces with a 91.7 serve percentage.

Curry Kendall, Sr., Tulsa Kelley: Kendall has compiled 511 kills, averaging 5.7 per set. She has also added 258 digs.

Clare Kierl, Sr., McGuinness: Kierl has a serve percentage of 98, averaging around two aces per match.

Kynli Kirkendoll, Sr., Jenks: Middle hitter Kirkendoll leads the Trojans with a 0.416 hitting percentage. She also has a team-high 82 blocks.

Morgan Manning, Jr., Deer Creek: The Antlers’ libero, Manning has tallied 600 digs, 124 assists, 33 aces and 15 kills.

Olivia Metz, Jr., McGuinness: Metz enters the state tournament with a .350 hitting average.

Gia McGrew, Jr., Mount St. Mary: An Iowa commit, McGrew has fueled the Rockets with a team-high 391 kills. Her stat line also includes 19 aces and 242 digs.

Kathrin Rowe, Sr., Edmond Memorial: The reigning Gatorade Oklahoma Player of the Year and The Oklahoman’s 2022 All-City Player of the Year, Rowe has continued to lead the Bulldogs alongside Hathaway. She plays all six rotations.

Paiton Tuggle, Sr., Tulsa Lincoln Christian: Tuggle played a key role in the Bulldogs’ state tournament win last year, and she’s back as they chase their first 5A title.

Taylor Vann, Sr., McGuinness: Vann has a 2.21 serve-receive rating as the Irish’s libero.

Liv Ward, Jr., Mount St. Mary: The Rockets’ setter, Ward has racked up 931 assists along with 98 kills and a .350 hitting percentage.

Caroline Wood, Sr., Jenks: Wood has logged 439 digs as Jenks’ libero, averaging 4.2 per set.

Hallie Hart covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Hallie? She can be reached at hhart@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @halliehart. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Hallie's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma HS volleyball storylines at Class 6A-5A state tournaments