For a team that struggled with injuries and chemistry at the beginning of the season, things started to look up at the Texas Showdown Aug. 24-26.

They shut out Schertz Clemens, LaVernia, San Angelo Central and Buda Johnson and dropped only one set each to Warren and Houston Memorial.. 

Their cruise to the finale faced its first obstacle in their matchup against Antonian.

“It just really showed us that we got to kick it in here and it gave us more incentive to work harder towards obtaining what we wanted, which is taking first,” senior right-side hitter Olivia Fuentes said.

They then won the next two sets and took home the trophy for the second time in three years.

Macie Mathis, senior outside hitter, tore a muscle in her thigh in the team’s first scrimmage but was able to make it back to the court in time for the tournament.”

“It was the first time the team all came together and played together,” she said.

Senior middle blocker Megan Zamora and senior defensive specialist Brittan Fedyk were selected to the All-Tournament Team, and Fuentes won Tournament MVP. Mathis also received the San Antonio Express-News game ball for her performance in the tournament.

The rollercoaster 2023 season (28-16) ended with a fourth place in district and a first round playoff loss to Liberty Hill on Oct. 31.

“The season was full of a lot of injuries, a lot of setbacks,” Fedyk said. “We had a really good season even if we did not end up where we wanted.”