Byron Nelson volleyball ends dominant season with sweep in Class 6A D2 state championship

As the nation’s number one ranked high school volleyball team, Byron Nelson entered the Class 6A Division Two State Championship with high expectations.

Head coach Brianne Groth’s Bobcats delivered through the pressure, sweeping Houston Stratford on Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Curtis Culwell Center. Throughout the 2024 playoffs, Byron Nelson (40-1) did not drop a single set.

“This group is so special,” Groth said. “And I know every coach says that, but I really mean it. This has to be like my favorite group, not only because they’re extremely talented and skilled, but because they are just great humans, and they’re great teammates, and they put others first.”

Junior outside hitter Kylie Kleckner earned MVP honors with 23 kills and nine digs. Teammate Ashlyn Seay, also a junior, was a key contributor with 20 kills and nine digs.

“Our two pins, in my opinion, are the best one-two duo in the state,” Groth said. “ ... Those two are some of the top hitters I have ever coached and probably will ever coach.”

Sophomore setter Sophee Peterson ran the offense, tallying 42 assists and a team-high 13 digs. She is one of the highest-ranked Class of 2027 recruits in Texas.

“It’s so crazy to me that she is a sophomore,” Groth said. “Her mind is of a 24-year-old setter. She is just making all the right choices. She is our best blocker -- she has the most blocks on the team. She does it all. ... She is such a winner.”

Senior Sydnee Peterson, who spent most of the season recovering from an ACL injury, tallied seven kills.

“It’s just amazing – being able to get back and be a part of this is surreal,” Sydnee Peterson said. “I don’t think it’s really hit me, but we’ve worked so hard, and we all just love each other so much, and everyone was so supportive.”

In its second state title game appearance, Byron Nelson secured its second volleyball state championship in program history. The first came in the 2019 season.

In the first set, Byron Nelson started strong with a 5-1 run, but the Spartans battled back and held a 16-15 lead. Byron Nelson pulled away, taking set one 25-20.

The Bobcats were dominant through the entirety of the second set, securing a 25-13 win, and continued the great play in set three, winning 25-14.

The Bobcats last dropped a set vs. Southlake Carroll on Oct. 1; they moved on to tally 13 consecutive sweeps while extending their overall win streak to 36 games. According to Groth, Byron Nelson hasn’t always played its best volleyball but consistently found ways to win.

“These kids are gritty,” Groth said. “They find ways to win when they’re not playing well, and then when we are playing well, it’s very hard to beat us. It’s been a great year. I couldn’t be prouder of these girls.”

Byron Nelson’s opponents averaged 14.8 points per set throughout the playoffs.

The Bobcats, in the regular season, won an undefeated district championship in District 4-6A. Byron Nelson also took down district rival Southlake Carroll in the regional finals, while Keller, another rival, played in the 6A division one bracket, falling in the regional semifinals.

Groth said District 4-6A is the “toughest in Texas.”

“Our district is just brutal,” Groth said. “And as much as it sucks sometimes to go night in and night out and have to bring your A game, it does prepare you for the playoffs because you don’t get a night off.”

Byron Nelson’s sole loss in 2024 came during a tournament game vs. Highland Park on Aug. 18.

“It made us realize we weren’t invincible,” Sydnee Peterson said. “We learned from that loss.”

Throughout the year, the Bobcats dropped eight total sets.

“I think it starts with coach Groth screaming at us to dominate,” Sophee Peterson said with a smile. “ ... We just always said we want to take care of business. We don’t want to just win -- we want to destroy.”

Although Sydnee Peterson will graduate, team captains Seay, Kleckner and sophomore Sophee Peterson can return, giving Byron Nelson a rare opportunity to start a Texas volleyball dynasty.