The Tivy Lady Antlers volleyball team extended their winning streak to eight games with a hard-fought 25-18, 22-25, 25-22, 25-11 victory over Boerne High School. The win was crucial for Tivy’s district standings, improving their record to 2-1 in 26-5A play.
A Battle of Momentum Swings
The match showcased the competitive nature of district volleyball, with the first three sets featuring numerous lead changes and momentum shifts. Both teams struggled with consistency early on, as serving errors and hitting mistakes prevented either side from building commanding leads.
Tivy established an early advantage in the opening set, jumping ahead 7-3 during Rylie Coates’ serving run. However, Boerne responded with their own surge to level the score at 12-12, setting the tone for a back-and-forth battle. The set remained deadlocked three different times before the Lady Antlers finally pulled away.
Individual Standouts Drive Team Success
Lily Gonzalez led Tivy’s offensive attack with 15 kills, many coming off precise sets from Rylie Coates, who finished with 18 assists. Coates also contributed defensively with six blocks and added an ace serve to her impressive stat line.
“Boerne came out with a lot of energy and they were serving well,” Gonzalez reflected after the match. “We finally found more energy in the fourth set. As a player, I feel I’m getting better because my team makes me better. It’s really uplifting the way they encourage me.”
The junior outside hitter, who split time between varsity and JV last season, has embraced her full-time varsity role this year and is making the most of the opportunity.
Defensive Anchors Provide Foundation
Leighton Hale proved instrumental in Tivy’s defensive effort, recording a team-high 17 digs while also contributing five assists. The Houston Christian recruit’s court coverage allowed the Lady Antlers to extend rallies and create scoring opportunities throughout the match.
Danica Blaker provided versatility with four kills, four blocks, four digs, and a crucial ace serve. Jilian Stebbins added nine kills to complement her defensive contributions, while Addie Kincaid distributed nine assists and matched that total with nine digs.
Fourth Set Dominance Seals Victory
After splitting the first two sets and grinding out a narrow third-set win, Tivy unleashed their most dominant performance in the fourth set. The Lady Antlers raced to a 7-2 lead and never looked back, with Rylan Adams serving effectively and the front line of Blaker and Rylie Coates controlling the net.
The team’s balanced attack proved too much for Boerne to handle, as Gonzalez, Stebbins, and Kincaid all contributed kills and blocks to extend the lead to 20-8 and eventually 23-9 before closing out the match.
Coaching Philosophy Pays Dividends
Head coach Stephanie Coates credited the team’s practice regimen for their ability to close out tight matches.
“I think we really served better in the third and fourth sets,” Coach Coates explained. “We play finish games every day at the end of practice, and that has helped us come back to win some hard-fought matches. Keeping eyes focused and executing what we do helped us settle down.”
The coach noted that Boerne’s aggressive serving in the early sets disrupted Tivy’s rhythm, but the Lady Antlers eventually found their spots and began running their middle attack more effectively.
Depth Provides Winning Edge
Tivy’s success continues to stem from balanced contributions across the roster. Rylan Adams finished with an ace, a kill, one assist, and 11 digs, while several role players made key contributions.
Rowen Garcia added three kills and three digs, Brynn Lidiak contributed two kills and four digs, Anna Canty posted three digs, Lauren Holland recorded two digs, and Karlynn Way chipped in with one dig and a kill.
This team-first approach has been a hallmark of Tivy’s eight-game winning streak and positions them well as district play continues to intensify. With improved chemistry and growing confidence, the Lady Antlers appear poised to make a strong push in 26-5A competition.
