Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas) coach Brianne Groth refused to talk about rankings throughout the season, saying they can trick you in to feeling too good about yourself.
But after capping a 40-1 season by sweeping No. 17
Stratford (Houston) in the Class 6A Division 2 state championship game, Groth is ready to embrace her program's status as MaxPreps National Champion.
"We are so over the moon," Groth said. "To win state is amazing. In states like Texas and California and Nebraska, it's tough to do with all the elite level of volleyball and being a public school it hits a little different. These kids are homegrown and went to our middle schools.
"Realizing we are also going to be MaxPreps National Champions is a cherry on top. A really big cherry."
Championship MVP and Washington commit
Kylie Kleckner led the team with
23 kills in the 25-20, 25-13, 25-14 victory.
Ashlyn Seay (Rice) added 20
kills and sophomore
Sophee Peterson tossed 42 assists. Senior
Emily Houskneht was stout on defense and
Kaitlyn Francis excelled at the libero spot.
Bryon Nelson ascended to the No. 1 spot in the MaxPreps Top 25 in the first week of October. It was a perch the Bobcats never left.
They didn't drop a set over the final six weeks of the season, sweeping through a Class 6A Division 2 bracket and allowing only two teams to reach 20 points in a set.
"Our goal was always to play at an elite level," Groth said. "Perfection is unattainable, but we would strive to hold teams to 15 points or less, to win every rotation. When you have such a great team, you have to give them something to strive for and that's complete dominance."
The Bobcats went 32-5 a season ago and reached the state quarterfinals. But high hopes heading into 2024 were dealt a blow when they lost senior hitter
Sydnee Peterson to an ACL in January.
All she did was continue her captain's role, Groth said, but being the heart of the team.
"She's the glue," Groth said. "She would set the tone in practice and lead the bench. In Hawaii (at the Ann Kang Invitational), she would get up at 5 a.m. to get her workout in before our 8 a.m. game."
She returned to action in October and had a role on the court for the Bobcats in the title victory.
Byron Nelson players celebrate after sweeping Stratford in the Class 6A Division 2 state championsip game, capping a 40-1 campaign and helping the Bobcats become MaxPreps National Champions. (Photo: Freddie Beckwith)
The Bobcats' one loss was at that 8 a.m. game in Honolulu to fellow Texas squad
Highland Park (Dallas) that Groth said provided a wake-up call for her squad.
"We played a really good Highland Park team early in the morning and we struggled and lost by 2 (15-13 in the third set)," she said. "Then we immediately had to turn around and play Mira Costa. So we didn't have time to pout.
"We didn't let our emotions carry into the next one and we wound up winning the tournament against a good Redondo Union team. I felt then like we weren't going to drop another match."
Groth, whose mother is legendary Amarillo coach Jan Barker, has seen a lot of high-caliber volleyball as a player and coach. She says this Byron Nelson team is among the best she's seen.
"A lot of players get to be around a great coach like my mom for a few years, but I had an 18-year internship with her and I've lived the championship culture," Groth said. "She taught me to make sure everything you do, you do with excellence.
"Byron Nelson has some high-level athletes, but they bought into what I demanded and I think this is one of the most dominating teams in the history of the state of Texas."
Past MaxPreps National Champions
2009 — Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
2010 — Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.)
2011 — Papillion-LaVista South
2012 — Bishop Moore (Orlando, Fla.)
2013 — The Woodlands (Texas)
2014 — Lewis-Palmer (Monument, Colo.)
2015 — Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.)
2016 — Mother McAuley (Chicago, Ill.)
2017 — Walton (Marietta, Ga.)
2018 — Assumption (Louisville, Ky.)
2019 — Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.)
2020 — No champion recognized due to pandemic
2021 — Marymount (Los Angeles, Calif.)
2022 — Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.)
2023 — Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Final MaxPreps Top 25
Class 6A Division 2 state champion.
2. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.), 46-3
Open Division state champion.
3. Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas), 37-2
TAPPS Class 6A state champion.
4. Roncalli (Indianapolis, Ind.), 35-0
Class 4A state champion.
5. Divine Savior Holy Angels (Milwaukee, Wis.), 47-1
Division 1 state champion.
6. Alpharetta (Ga.), 36-0Class AAAAAA state champion.
7. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 37-5Southern California Open Division runner-up.
8. Xavier College Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.), 32-4Class 6A state champion.
9. Marist (Chicago, Ill.), 32-9Class 4A state champion.
10. Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 40-2Class 4A state runner-up.
11. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 33-6Southern Section Open Division runner-up.
12. Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio, Texas), 33-4
13. Mount St. Mary (Oklahoma City, Okla.), 39-1Class 6A state champion.
Class 6A Division 1 state champion.
15. Winter Park (Winter Park, Fla.), 28-1Class 7A state champion.
16. Harrisburg (S.D.), 31-0Class AA state champion.
17. Stratford (Houston, Texas), 42-3Class 6A Division 2 state runner-up.
18. Northville (Mich.), 39-2Division 1 state champion.
19. Horizon (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 30-5Class 5A state champion.
Class A state champion.
22. Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 35-8KHSAA state champion.
23. Norris (Firth, Neb.), 38-1Class B state champion.
24. Carroll (Fort Wayne, Ind.), 33-3Class 4A state champion.
25. Pope John Paul II (Royersford, Pa.), 32-0-1Class 3A state champion.
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Open Division state runner-up.
Class 5A state champion.
Class 6A state champion.
