After a back and forth rally, outside hitter senior Lily Davis ran up the middle of the court and slammed a kill down the middle of the court against the third-ranked Johnson Jaguars. Her 34 kill of the game sealed varsity volleyball’s path to the state semifinals.

The Chaps (32-17) came back from down two sets to one to beat Johnson (41-7) at Tony Burger Center Thursday night, clinching their first state semifinal appearance since 2009. Davis headlined the match for Westlake, finishing with 6.8 kills per set. 

“I think we played really well as a team,” junior outside hitter Chloe Kelly said. “Even though we got in some ruts we worked really hard and pushed each other and relied on each other to get through it.”

The Chaps dominated the first set, closing out the Jags 25-20 to take an early 1-0 lead. Johnson immediately flipped the momentum at the start of the second set, taking an early 11-8 lead that they never gave up, en route to a 25-17 win. They didn’t let up, taking another early lead in the third set at 5-1, which they used to finish the Chaps off in the set, 25-22. 

“I really think it was just the team mentality that changed after the 3rd set,” senior middle hitter Malaysia Brady said. “We had to realize that Johnson was really putting up a fight and that we had to do the same. Throughout that whole game our captains, Lily Davis and Mallory Weyand, really just took over and you could really see the hunger in their eyes and that they were not leaving that gym without a win. The crowd was also such a huge contribution during the game. Just knowing we had so many people who supported us was an amazing feeling.”

Trailing Johnson 2-1 with their backs against the wall, the Chaps came out hot in the fourth set and took a 13-5 lead capped by two aces from Kelly. They then closed out the set 25-12 to force a deciding fifth set played to 15. 

Johnson took an early 7-4 lead, forcing a Chaparral timeout. Out of the break the Chaps lost two more points, and then began mounting a comeback. Westlake won seven straight points, and at 13-10 forced a Johnson timeout. With two more points, the Chaps clinched the regional championship 15-12.

The Chaps hit the court next against Fulshear Tuesday at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin. It’s the first state semifinal appearance for Westlake since 2009, and they will look to take down the Houston-area powerhouse, who currently own a 38-6 record. The Chargers are sizzling, riding a 15 match winning streak into the matchup. 

“We’re working really hard,” Kelly said. “Every practice, every touch, we’re making each other better. I think we’re gonna keep doing that and keep getting better.”