BACK IN PLAQUE

Principal Mike Garrison presented the varsity volleyball team with its District 25-5A runner-up plaque today during fourth period in the small gym on Oct. 27. Photo by Nikki Northcutt.

A SMOOT POINT

Sophomore Liana Smoot leaps high in the air in order to keep a point alive during the Knights' three-set loss to Kerrville Tivy at Wimberley. Photo by Madison Olsen.

A SPIKE IN SUPPORT

The cheer squad made the trip to Wimberley to lend moral support at the Knights returned to the 5A playoffs just like they did the year before. Photo by Zoe Hutchens.

HERE'S A TIP

Into the third set at Wimberley, the Knights trailed but fought to stay in it. Freshman Preslie Boswell played a terrific match, consistently making plays especially tips over the Tivy front line. Photo by Zoe Hutchens.

HIGH 10

Coach Broadbeck greets senior co-captain Charliee Arnold with a double high-5 as Arnold is introduced prior to the start of the first-round playoff match versus Tivy, which the Antlers won in straight sets. Photo by Madison Olsen.

SOPHIA THE SETTER

Since being called up to the varsity squad, freshman Sophia Henderson has been a key distributor on the squad. "We did great this season," Henderson said. "We really fought hard for our spot in district, and to make it into playoffs, Freshman teammate Sophia Henderson said, We definitely had our ups and downs but overall it was a really awesome, exciting season to be apart of.”

THE THREE AMIGAS

The team's three co-captains, Bastidas, Wiley and Arnold, celebrate after pulling to within two points in the first set of what would end up being the last high school match the trio of team leaders would play. Photo by Reed Johnson.

UNBROKEN CIRCLE

The team huddles together while trying to claw its way back into the match. The team reached 20 points in two of the games, but lost the match, 3-0. Photo by Reed Johnson

KINDRED SPIRITS

Coach Brodbeck and co-captain Lindsey Wiley strike parallel poses after the Knights win a dramatic point during the team's three-set loss to Kerrville Tivy. Phto by Zoe Hutchens.

CAN SHE DIG IT?

Most often an oustide hitter, senior Sophia Bastidas digs the ball while in the back line during the Knihgts' matching against the Kerrville Tivy Antlers. Photo by Madison Olsen.

BETTER HOLMES

Senior Emma Holmes serves the ball back toward the Antlers during their game at Wimberley High School. Holmes is one of seven seniors who played their last high school match. Photo by Madison Olsen.

POINT TAKEN

Lindsey Wiley, Sophia Henderson, Acacia Burnett and Preslie Boswell celebrate after winning a long back-and-forth point late in the first set of the team's bi-district playoff match versus Kerrville Tivy at Wimberley. The Antlers took the first set, 25-20. Photo by Madison Olsen.

ARMS RACE

The reaction of the McCallum players juxtaposed with the frozen stares of the Tivy fans in the stands tells you all you need to know about how this point went. The playoff loss did not lessen the team's accomplishment: a second-place district finish, allowing them to return to the state playoffs. Photo by Madison Olsen.

The varsity volleyball season came to an end on Oct. 30 at Wimberley High School with the Knights losing to the Kerrville Tivy Antlers in the bi-district playoffs, 25-20, 25-10, 25-20.

The playoff loss brought an end to an eventful season, filled with suspense and tension, highs and lows. Many thought this team would struggle this season, but the team had other ideas, earning a second-place district finish and returning to the state playoffs. 

In place of last year’s veteran unit, a senior-laden team, led by outside hitter Andrea Janss, a younger unit unit returned with less experience and lower expectations. 

Instead of letting those expectations define the team’s season, the team came very close to replicating the achievements of last year’s team, which won district and lost in the first round of the 5A state playoffs.

Senior Sophia Bastidas said that the transition from last season to this one required a lot of adjustments.

“I feel that everyone was a little on edge because we got a lot of seniors that left from the year before,” Bastidas said. “There were only about four returning varsity players. It’s kind of strange playing with new players; even though they’re in my grade, I know them but I haven’t played volleyball with them for the past three years, and I didn’t really know what to expect.”

 Junior Lindsey Wiley said that she believes the team worked hard to counteract the loss of the experienced players.

“I feel like we exceeded our expectations, since we lost quite a few really good seniors this year who had been on a while last year,” Wiley said. “We weren’t expecting to be as good as we were this year, but a lot of people stepped up and we improved a lot over the season.”

The team was able to adapt to working without their seniors as they now had new players who were able to work together and work hard to achieve as much as they did. One of these new players. Preslie Boswell, one of the two freshman on the team, was proud of their accomplishments this year.

“I knew playoffs were gonna be really tough, because it was playoffs and it’s all of Texas, but I knew that we were a good team, and I thought we played very well together,” Boswell said.

These newer players on varsity were able to combine with the returning players to take down most of their district opponents.  The team lost twice to undefeated district champion Austin High and lost two tough five-set matches to Ann Richards, but lost only one other district match.

The consistent play throughout the district season enabled the team to place ahead of ARS for second place in the district.