The Woodlands High School volleyball team won back-to-back state titles, in 2013 and this school year winning the 2014 University Interscholastic League, or UIL, class 6A state championship. The team's record for 2014 was 40-3, and the Lady Highlanders defeated Clear Falls in the state title game.

Head coach Leslie Madison said the Lady Highlanders' second consecutive state title was attributable in large part to the team's five returning seniors who instilled a champion sense in the new varsity players.

There were some tension-filled moments throughout the season for the Lady Highlanders. Madison said her coaching staff was worried they would not be able to repeat the success of the year before. She said early losses to San Antonio O'Connor and Hebron added to the worry.

"We lost the district match to [Oak Ridge]—a team that we hadn't lost to in a very long time," she said. "That proved to show that we were beatable. That district loss was a wake-up call and probably one of the best things that happened to us."

Madison said the team's chemistry played a large part in its success. The players are friends first, she said, and have formed chemistry that is demonstrated on the court.

"They're good kids," Madison said. "They're smart and really cared about each other off the court. Talent obviously is there, and we're always blessed to have that. I think the difference between a champion and second place is team chemistry along with talent."

The team

Head coach

• Leslie Madison

Players

• Kendall Cook


• Hannah Hickman


• Grey Kennedy


• Codi Lee


• Julia Pasch


• Bella Pinton


• Colby Quinn


• Courtney Quinn


• Rachel Reed


• Hailey Reier

Managers

• Jillian Dunlap


• Taylor Stoute

The road to the title

The Lady Highlanders played the following teams in the 2014–15 Class 6A volleyball tournament:

• Bi-district,Montgomery


• Area, McNeil (Round Rock)


• Regional quarterfinal, Westwood (Round Rock)


• Regional semifinal, Highland Park (Dallas)


• Regional final, Richardson Pearce (Dallas)


• State semifinal, Churchill (San Antonio)


• State championship, Clear Falls