Tompkins volleyball claimed the top spot in the Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) Class 6A state poll released Aug. 18, according to the Katy Times.
The Falcons started the season ranked No. 8 in the TGCA's preseason poll on July 8. They climbed seven spots to reach No. 1 after opening the year 12-1 overall and 2-0 in district play, according to MaxPreps.
The TGCA ranks defending state champions No. 1 at the start of each season regardless of graduation losses. Byron Nelson, Southlake Carroll and Cedar Park all held that automatic top spot in their respective classifications in July. Tompkins earned its ranking the hard way, climbing past all of them through early-season results.
Head coach A. Merrell's squad has spread production across the roster. Junior outside hitter Elsa St. Rose leads the team with 4.2 kills per set and 2.2 digs per set. Senior middle blocker Natalie Kitts carries a .619 hitting percentage with 23 total blocks. Senior setter Drew Merrell leads the team in aces with 18 on the season.
Tompkins beat Katy Taylor 3-1 on Tuesday, Aug. 25, in district action.
The full TGCA Class 6A top five: Tompkins, Austin Westlake, Aledo, Byron Nelson and Cypress Ranch. Cy Ranch, a fellow Katy-area program in Cy-Fair ISD, landed at No. 5.
Seven Lakes, which started the preseason at No. 7 ahead of Tompkins, did not appear in the Aug. 18 top 15. No Katy-area teams were named to the Class 4A poll.
Tompkins plays O'Connor at 10 a.m. and travels to Concordia Lutheran at noon on Thursday, Aug. 27.
