Sports

The field of Van Zandt County volleyball teams left in this year’s playoffs was winnowed down to one last week, as Van survived two more hard-fought matches to reach the Regional Semifinal round of the playoffs.

Van Zandt County was well represented at the UIL State Cross Country Meet last week with three local athletes, Canton sophomore Graycee Wilson, Edgewood senior Kaley Nicholson and Martins Mill junior Mattie Burns all qualifying to compete.

The final Friday night of the 2021 regular season brought with it plenty of drama with one team at home idle, two teams fighting for their playoff lives and three teams already assured of a playoff spot. Van Zandt County ultimately finished with no new additions to the playoff field as Fruitvale and Grand Saline each suffered setbacks Nov. 5, leaving Canton, Edgewood and Van as the last team’s standing locally.

With his prediction in the ‘tie-breaker’ game, Allan Holloway of Canton is the winner of Football Contest No. 11 in the Van Zandt News.

Top, Mia Nixon, who has won state championships in golf and basketball during her time at Martins Mill, committed to play golf collegiately at Texas A&M University during a special signing ceremony Nov. 10. Bottom, Martins Mill standout student-athlete Jada Celsur was joined by family, friends and teammates as she signed her letter of intent to play basketball at Texas Woman’s University next season. Courtesy photos

The local playoff picture continues to come into focus with three schools, Canton, Edgewood and Van, all guaranteed a spot in the bi-district round and two others, Fruitvale and Grand Saline, still alive heading into play Nov. 5. Wills Point, which has struggled with consistency throughout the season after implementing its third offensive and defensive scheme in three seasons, is currently the lone county program assured of missing the postseason.

Van Zandt County volleyball teams acquitted themselves well on the court during the 2021 season, with four out of six local programs advancing to postseason play. Wills Point narrowly missed out on making it five, falling in four sets against the Mabank Lady Panthers during a play-in game Oct. 30.

The Wills Point Tiger tennis program strung together a dominant fall season, entering last week’s Class 4A State Team Tennis Tournament with a sterling 21-1 mark overall. Wills Point would suffer only its second loss of the season in the State Semifinals, falling by a deceptive 10-0 score to Wimberley to finish the fall season as State bronze medalists.