Hondo Anvil Herald

PHOTO / JEFF BERGER

The D’Hanis Cowgirls finished the season with a 30-14 record and a 1A state runner-up trophy, after their fourth UIL state tourney appearance since 2017. From left are Mabry Herrmann, Kelly Self, Jessa Frosch, Jolie Frosch, Kylee Thompson and Peyton Burell.

PHOTO / JEFF BERGER

Jessa Frosch goes for a kill in the state final against Blum.

Cowgirls finish as 1A state runner-up

 

By Jeff Berger

Anvil Herald Publisher

 

     Garland -- The best season ever for the D’Hanis Cowgirl volleyball program ended Thursday, Nov. 17, in the 1A state championship match at the Curtis Culwell Center.

     The Cowgirls reached the state finals, but ran into a very solid opponent in Blum, which swept D’Hanis, 25-10, 25-17, 25-16, to claim their first state title.

     D’Hanis (30-14), in its fourth state tourney in the last six years, reached the title game for the first time this season, sweeping Benjamin in Wednesday’s semifinals, 25-23, 25-16, 25-15.

     For Blum (37-13) it was the fifth trip to state in the last six years, and after three runner-up finishes, the Ladycats claimed their first crown.

Blum led the entire match on Thursday. The Ladycats took a 5-0 lead in the first set, and led by as much as 22-5.

In the second and third sets, Blum took the lead, but in both sets, the Cowgirls rallied to make things close. Blum stretched a 10-9 lead in set 2 to 14-9. D’Hanis scored three straight points on a push to the back corner by Jolie Frosch, a kill from Mabry Herrmann and an ace from Kylee Thompson. But at 14-12, Blum broke serve and rolled off four straight points to go up 19-12 and regained control.

     The Ladycats again took a 5-0 lead in the third set, before D’Hanis cut the gap to 6-5. But just as they did in the second set, Blum, which has no seniors on its roster, went on a 5-1 run to go up 11-6. A kill by Peyton Burell cut the Ladycats’ lead to 12-8, but a long rally on the next point went to Blum. The Ladycats scored the next three points and the margin never got any closer than five points the rest of the afternoon.

     Mabry Herrmann, who tied a state 1A record with a hand in six blocks during the semifinal match, finished the tournament with 26 kills over the two days, and was named to the all-tournament team.

     Blum had four players on the all-tourney team, including championship game MVP, freshman Kinsley McPherson. Blum juniors Emma Scott, Ruby Rumohr and Kayden Arrington were on the team, along with Benjamin junior Valeria Zavala.

     In the semifinal win over Benjamin, Herrmann recorded 17 kills, with a 30-assist night from Jolie Frosch.

PHOTO / JEFF BERGER

D’Hanis libero Kelly Self keeps the ball alive during Thursday’s second set.