After a 3-1 win over the Georgetown High School Eagles last night, the varsity volleyball team will play Frisco Wakeland High School for the 5A-DII state title on Saturday.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the kids and everybody behind the scenes,” head coach Lori McLaughlin said. “Georgetown is an amazing team, so this is a hard win. We just continue to be fueled by our wins and the motivation we have to keep our season going.”
After falling 25-13 in the first set, the T-Wolves came back and won three straight sets to win the game. Junior outside hitter Joy Udoye registered 19 kills and 18 digs and junior setter Sibley Oster had 30 assists and 15 digs, both earning double-doubles.
“We just came together [after the first set] and we talked,” Oster said. “We knew we had it at the end of the day, so we just knew we needed to play for each other in order to win the game.”
The two seniors on the team played a large role in the comeback from the first set. Senior middle blocker Sofia Peters had 18 kills, and senior defensive specialist Haley Burton had eight digs.
“They bring the energy every game,” Oster said. “It was unpredicted that we would make it this far, but we knew we had it and we knew we could make it. Having core players like that really helps us win and play our best.”
The Timberwolves “Black Rain” defense proved to be key in the win as four players registered more than 10 digs and five different players registered a block.
“We just fought for each other and we knew that we wanted to achieve this goal [of making it to the title game],” Udoye said. “I’m just so proud of us. I’m so proud of the fight that we brought to every point and that is just how we got this win.”
Oster also said the support from the community and student body helped the team throughout the game as well.
“This is definitely the best student section we’ve ever had,” Oster said. “It was really exciting having them here. Having people be loud and be there for us really helps the environment that we play in and it gives us energy. It really just lets us know that we have it in us [to win].”
The team will play at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland at noon on Saturday. McLaughlin said the team will keep their preparation the same as always despite the magnitude of the game.
“[We want] to continue to make this the most epic, historic volleyball season for us,” McLaughlin said. “It’s our turn, we’re going to go get it.”