A final win during the UIL Volleyball State Championship Tournament has netted the Decatur Lady Eagles the state's most prestigious award for volleyball competitors.
The Lady Eagles Volleyball team was officially named the UIL's State Champion during the 4A Division 1 competition in Garland, Texas, on Friday, Nov. 22. The Lady Eagles faced off against Bellville High School, winning 3 out of 4 sets (scores: 25-22, 25-21, 24-26, and 25-23) to clinch a hard, won victory at the Curtis Culwell Center.
It was a remarkable win for the team and its new head coach, Stormi Snider, who also received her first State Title during that Friday night game.
"They asked me one time, 'Have you ever won State?'" said Coach Snider during the team's post-game press conference. "I said no. They looked at me and said, "We're going to get you a banner.' I 100 percent believed it because it wasn't just about them. They wanted to include me, and that as a coach is an amazing feeling."
“We wanted to end with a gold bang,” Lara Hornsby, who was also named the state MVP after clinching 16 kills and 16 digs. “We’ve been together since we were young. We’ve always hung out together, so this is the best experience we could have that ‘little us’ probably would’ve never even thought about.”
Fans watching the sets were in for a competitive game against Bellville's players.
"I was just trying to keep them calm because we do better when we feel in control," said Snider. "If we can feel that the next point is ours, they go out and they dominate. I always say, get a pass, get a good set, get a good swing. That's exactly what they did. They didn't let their nerves, they didn't let the emotions of a late push overtake them."
A Legacy of Success
The competition marked the sixth time in Decatur program history that the Lady Eagles have advanced to the State Championship, and the sixth time that the team has won.
In addition to the game, the 2014 Decatur Lady Eagle volleyball team was recognized during the 4A Division I state final between Wimberley and Canyon Randall Friday at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland.
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Watch the full press conference: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/uil/evtd6e8463a02
Subscribe to re-watch the game: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/uil/gam2e2f2d8786