Cornerstone Christian volleyball coach Mike Carter stands in the middle of a court in the high school’s empty and quiet gymnasium, his ear pressed to a cell phone. He’s fielding calls and figuring out how best to conduct a practice around basketball games.

It’s a Monday afternoon in mid-October, the day before the team’s final match of the 2022 season, and in a few moments the serenity of the building will be pierced by chatter, laughter and the hustle and bustle that usually accompanies the end of a school day.

Backpack-toting teenagers, wearing attire synonymous with a private school, filter into the facility after the final bell rings. Their excitement and anticipation are palpable.

Carter never imagined such a scenario when he was lured out of retirement in spring 2018 to take over a program not far removed from a one-win season. He never envisioned that the tiny school located off Loop 1604 on the city’s North Side would play its home volleyball matches before packed crowds or receive national acclaim.

“I knew I was going to enjoy working with kids that wanted to play the game, but I had no idea that in five years it was going to grow to how it is now,” Carter said. “The kids are supportive. The parents are supportive. The administration allows us to grow.”

What sprouted, especially a year ago, was a squad that ranks among the best in San Antonio area history.

The 1985 Churchill team, coached by Wanda Bingham, has long been the gold standard. The Chargers finished 38-0 that season and won the UIL Class 5A (now 6A) state crown behind standout players Yvonne Van Brandt (Texas A&M), Erin Fogarty (Tulane), Kristin Sparks (Texas Tech), Denise Niles (a walk-on for Texas’ 1988 national title team), Carol Haley and the late Tamin Uthoff (UTSA), who died in August 2022. The 38 straight wins made up the majority of Churchill’s 69-match winning streak that started in 1984 and concluded in 1986, the longest mark in area history and No. 3 statewide.

In terms of sheer athleticism, talent and skill, perhaps no area team had more than Carter’s 2008 Reagan squad. That team, which lost a five-set classic to Austin Westlake in the regional final (18-16 in the decisive frame after erasing four match points), featured nine players — Amber Tatsch (San Diego), Danielle Sanchou (Ole Miss/Texas State), Kayla Keller (Central Florida), Preslie Alexander (Texas State/New Mexico State), Lindsay Hill (Stephen F. Austin), Rachel James (Texas State), Kayci Evans (Baylor), Kacy Griffin (Houston) and Susan Lewis (SMU) — who competed at the Division I level. Thirteen out of the 15 players on the roster played in college. Sanchou is head coach at La Vernia and a year ago led the Bears to the Region IV-4A final in her first season, falling to Bellville in five sets. She was an assistant coach on New Braunfels Canyon’s 2021 state semifinalist team. Hill is an assistant coach at Alamo Heights and helped the Mules claim their first state tournament berth in 2019.

Reagan’s 2012 club, ranked as high as No. 3 nationally and stunned in the third round of the playoffs by Smithson Valley, produced eight Division I players: Brooke Sassin (Mississippi State/Kansas State/TCU beach), Morgan Reed (Baylor), Ashlie Reasor (Texas A&M), Bailey Shurbet (Kansas State/Wake Forest), Dayna Kramer (East Carolina), Krista Kolbinskie (Arkansas), Ashley Brueggeman (North Dakota) and Ashton Korona (Marist). The 2017 Reagan club, which was ranked No. 1 in the nation for a large portion of the season, lost to O’Connor in the Region IV-6A final, and was Carter’s final team at the school before retiring, had seven Division I players — Camryn Ennis (Kansas/Texas A&M/Pittsburgh), Elissa Barbosa (Georgetown), Lydia Niebla (UTSA), Kyla Waiters (Oregon State/Nevada), Maddie Correa (Texas Tech), Nadia Manitzas (McNeese State) and Lylah Washington (Lehigh) — and 11 who played in college.

“People will ask me, ‘Is this the best?’ ” Carter said of comparisons between the 2022 Cornerstone team and others he coached. “You know, there are two or three that are equally stacked like this, and I don’t know who would win. It would be a fun game.”

Cornerstone made a strong argument for itself in 2022. Playing an independent schedule because it has no league affiliation after the school parted ways with Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) amid an investigation into allegations of recruiting by local public-school districts, the team took on and fared exceptionally well against all comers.

The Warriors had a 55-2 record in 2022, believed to be the most wins ever in a season by a school from Texas and, quite possibly, in U.S. prep history. The 2015 Dripping Springs squad, coached by Michael Kane and featuring Division I players Morgyn Greer (Florida/South Carolina beach), Autumn Rounsaville (Texas), Ashley Waggle (TCU), Graceyn Tippens (Denver) and Ava Pritchard (Clemson) went 51-3 and won the UIL Class 5A state championship. Austin Lake Travis’ 2011 team, led by Coach Jennifer Kazmierski and standout players Amy Neal (Texas), Katy Beals (Washington), Sierra Patrick (Texas A&M), Mackenzie Mayo (Baylor) and Kaci Eaton (North Texas/Nicholls State), finished 50-0 and only lost one set en route to claiming the 5A state crown.

Based on personnel and success, Cornerstone is on par with those squads. The Warriors, who last year was No. 2 in each of the final national rankings compiled by American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/USA Today, PrepVolleyball, MaxPreps, vballrecruiter.com, justwomenssports.com and Blue Star Media, defeated a who’s who of top programs, including Dripping Springs (twice), The Woodlands, Richmond Fulshear, Austin Westlake (twice), Leander Rouse, Austin Lake Travis, Fort Bend Ridge Point, New Braunfels Canyon (twice), Grapevine, Amarillo High, O’Connor, Friendswood, Flower Mound, Cy Ranch, Keller, Plano Prestonwood, Fort Worth Boswell and California powers Marymount and Mira Costa. Cornerstone had 51 wins against teams that made the playoffs and defeated seven squads that won state championships — Dripping Springs (UIL Class 6A), Plano Prestonwood (TAPPS 6A), Queen Creek (Arizona 6A), Timpview (Utah 5A), Horizon (Arizona 5A), Venice (Florida 7A), Seacrest Country Day (Florida 2A) and Santa Fe (Florida 4A). The Warriors also won the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix, Volleypalooza in Leander, Turner Classic in Pearland, Fraulein Volleyfest in New Braunfels and the private schools-only FAST tournament in Houston and were second at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Tampa, Fla., falling to Miami’s Westminster 17-25, 30-28, 15-12 in the finale after having match point in the second set.

“Playing in these big tournaments, and winning them, I knew that the target on our back was going to get bigger; people were going to come after us a little bit harder,” said Cornerstone libero Alyssa Manitzas, who is now a freshman at Notre Dame. “I knew that we were going to be strong, but having the season that we had is the ideal thing that you could possibly imagine.”

The Warriors, who ended the 2022 season by winning 49 of their final 50 matches, were loaded with height, power, depth, skill and versatility. Nayeli Gonzalez, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter who is now at Iowa State, led the charge. Gonzalez, though, was far from the only weapon. She was one of potentially 10 Division I prospects on a 23-player roster. Taylor Anderson, a 6-1 setter, is at national power Purdue. Outside hitter Rylee Busse is at Memphis, and outside hitter Reagan Elizondo is at Grand Canyon University in Arizona for beach volleyball.

Grace Carroll, a 6-5 senior outside hitter, is committed to Baylor. Maria Avendano, a senior libero, is pledged to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Outside hitters Megan Fitch and Macey Hughes — both 6-1 — and Kaia Thiele, a 5-11 setter, are among the nation’s top prospects in the Class of 2025. Fitch, a Texas A&M commit, transferred from Reagan, Hughes moved in from Oregon, and Thiele, who is committed to Nevada-Las Vegas, is the daughter of former St. Mary’s University All-American outside hitter and Madison graduate Lesli Stults.

Hannah Spencer, a 6-1 middle blocker who transferred from Johnson, is playing for Division II power Angelo State. Gonzalez and Anderson were both selected to multiple All-American teams a year ago. Manitzas played for the winning squad at the Under Armour All-American match in January in Orlando, Fla. Elizondo was named one of the nation’s top 50 beach players by Volleyball magazine, and Fitch was tabbed as one of the top underclassmen by MaxPreps.

“I don’t think I expected this program to grow this big and be this successful,” said Anderson, who played her final three years at Cornerstone after transferring from Warren following her freshman season in 2019. “Definitely more than I envisioned.”

It certainly was more than what Carter had in mind. One moment, he was retired and simply looking for a gymnasium to hold a practice for a local club that he serves as director. The next, he was agreeing to return to the same coaching grind he had left behind only months earlier.

But the decision paid off.

On Sept. 29, the Cornerstone team traveled to Phoenix to play that weekend in the Nike Tournament of Champions, an event comprised mostly of top teams from California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada. It was the last of six tournaments on the season for the Warriors, and a chance for them to add another jewel to an impressive crown. It was clear the trip was equal parts a mission and a coronation — one that could cement the team’s place in history.

“I feel like in Arizona, we wanted to finish out with a big bang,” Gonzalez said. “We knew there was going to be big teams there, and it was going to be hard. The first day went by very fast and we kind of blew the teams out. Once the second day came, everybody became our height, everyone became just as good. I feel Arizona really tested us on ‘are we that good?’ We were that good.”

Cornerstone swept through pool play on that Friday, then went 4-0 in Saturday’s bracket play, topping defending national champion Marymount of Los Angeles in the semifinals and Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach, Calif., in the final.

“Everybody’s mentality was we wanted to win,” Busse said. “When we would go in, everyone would say, ‘Oh, they’re a small private school.’ We showed them that we’re just not a private school. We didn’t look the part of being No. 2 in the nation, but we, for sure, played like it.”

The circumstances behind Cornerstone becoming a virtual traveling all-star team varied. Anderson and Manitzas, who transferred from Reagan, said they moved to Cornerstone because it was one of the few local schools that provided in-person instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021. Busse came to the school in 2019 to play with her older sister Beall, driving round-trip about 70 miles daily from New Braunfels. Elizondo, previously at Smithson Valley, transferred in 2021 because she was looking to grow spiritually. Spencer sought to play for a program where her game could be tested against stiff competition on a daily basis.

All moved with the understanding that Cornerstone could not compete for state or district titles, or even make the postseason, like their previous schools.

“I think the kids have really bought into the idea that we can go and play the best in Texas; we can go out of Texas and play the best,” said Carter, who collected his 1,000th career win in 2022, the first area coach to achieve the milestone. “We don’t have to play a weak district schedule that kind of bores them, when we can go play quality teams across the state and country.”

Under Carter, who also had successful stints at Randolph and Holmes, Cornerstone has quickly transformed into a national elite, notching a combined 150 wins over the past four seasons.

“I feel like everyone’s all-in, and everyone puts everything they have into this,” Spencer said. “It’s like a family. We work better together, we’re more comfortable giving people critique. It was honestly kind of eye-opening. I had never seen a high school team compete on a level like this before. It’s kind of a breath of fresh air to be able to play at a new level and be around people to push me to be better.”

Cornerstone was so deep in 2022 that it could nearly put two separate teams across the net comprised almost entirely of Division I prospects, making practices as intense as the matches.

“I was amazed when I came here with all the talent, because it really pushes you to work harder and earn your spot on the court,” Fitch said.

The same could be said for the impact the Warriors had on opponents. Davenport had a breakout season a year ago, winning an undefeated district championship and coming up one win shy of making it to the Region IV-4A tournament. The Wolves won nine in a row, dropping only one set, following a 25-13, 25-17, 25-12 loss to Cornerstone.

“I do know that they were a tremendously talented team that enabled us to perform at the top of our game,” Davenport senior outside hitter Talan Dodson said. “A lot of us on the Davenport team are used to playing high-level volleyball and you really don’t focus on the opponents in big matches. We focus on what we’re supposed to do — passing, digging, setting and getting good serves in. For the most part, our team executed as we should in the game against Cornerstone. We had great plays, but they had even bigger ones, and came out on top.”

terrence@terrencesports.com
Twitter: @sa_terrence1

2022 Cornerstone roster
No. Player Pos Class
1 Natalia Jackson Setter Jr
2 Kaia Thiele Setter Soph
3 Alyssa Manitzas Libero Sr
4 Maria Avendano DS Jr
5 Taylor Anderson S/OH Sr
6 Audrey Rogers DS Jr
7 Amaris Alvarez DS Sr
8 Olivia Parker MB Jr
9 Genesis Casillas OH Sr
10 Brooklyne Milo MB Sr
11 Rylee Busse OH Sr
12 Reagan Elizondo OH Sr
13 Natalie Adams Setter Sr
14 Nayeli Gonzalez OH/MB Sr
15 Giselle Ojeda DS Jr
16 Grace Carroll OH Jr
18 Savannah Smith MB Jr
19 Ella Thompson OH Sr
20 Megan Fitch OH Soph
21 Grace Alvarez DS Jr
22 Hannah Spencer MB Sr
23 Macey Hughes OH Soph
24 Laura Frans DS/OH Sr
Coach: Mike Carter

Other top teams

1990 Clark
Coach: Kirby Jameson
Record: 33-4
Key players: Anna Klasing, Suzy Wente, Dana Santleban, Kesha Peoples
The rundown: A year after falling short in the state final, the Cougars reached the apex by rallying to edge Houston Clear Lake 12-15, 15-10, 15-11 for their first state crown.

1991 Jay
Coach: Ann Krueger
Record: 35-3
Key players: Demetria Sance, Jessica Alvarado, Stephanie Sifuentes, Roberta Avila, Crissy Vidal
The rundown: The Mustangs made the most of the first of four straight trips to the state tournament, sweeping Humble Kingwood 15-10,15-8 to claim the state championship. Sance played for Team USA at 2000 Olympics after a record-setting career at the University of Texas and Alvarado helped Long Bech State win the 1998 national championship.

2012 New Braunfels
Coach: Robin Gerlich
Record: 46-5
Key players: Jessica Waldrip, Daniella Villarreal, Ali Hubicsak, Ashley Myer, Neka Cuppetilli, Katie Steel
The rundown: The Unicorns fell just short in a remarkable comeback bid, losing to defending state champion Coppell 25-14, 25-17, 23-25, 22-25, 15-10. Paced by setter Jessica Waldrip’s triple-double (10 kills, 37 assists and 20 digs) and stellar defense from Villarreal — who is now head coach at Canyon Lake High School — Myer and Hubicsak, New Braunfels bounced back after dropping the first two sets to force a decisive fifth set. In the final frame, the Unicorns led 10-8 before Coppell reeled off the final seven points behind the play of middle hitter Chiaka Ogbogu, who went on to win a gold medal with Team USA at the 2021 Olympics.

2021 Brandeis
Coach: Maddie Williams
Record: 47-2
Key players: Jalyn Gibson, Carlee Pharris, Emma Halstead, Leila Smalls, Dani Gray, Austin Smoak
The rundown: Spurred by a loss in the Region IV-6A final a year earlier, the Broncos rode the motivation to a historic state title. They outlasted Keller 27-29, 25-23, 16-25, 25-15, 15-12 in the final. Gibson had 29 kills and 14 digs and was named the match’s MVP, while Carlee Pharris tallied 49 assists, 12 digs and 3 1/2 blocks.

2014 Churchill
Coach: Jo Anne Hultgren
Record: 39-8
Key players: Karley York, BrynCaitlin Walker, Monica Ramon, Ashley Dominguez, Taylor Martinez, Abby Buckingham, Hannah Lopez, Cate Buckingham
The rundown: The 2013 state finalist squad had a better record and advanced one round farther, but this squad was likely deeper and more talented. With eight Division I signees, the Chargers suffered heartbreak in the state semifinals vs. defending state champion The Woodlands. Trailing 14-11 in the decisive fifth set, Churchill tallied four straight points, fighting off three match points, to grab a 15-14 advantage and its own match point. The Woodlands, though, scored the final three points for a 18-25, 25-21, 25-19, 20-25, 17-15 win before 3,245 fans at the Culwell Center in Garland.

2006 Poth
Coach: Patti Zenner
Record: 43-4
Key players: Aimee Huffman, Lauren Waclawczyk, Courtney Laskowski, Amanda Waclawczyk, Whitney Wehmeyer, Desiree Dziuk
The rundown: The Pirettes put an exclamation point on a third straight state title, pounding fellow state power Jewett Leon 25-15, 25-17, 25-12 as Huffman had 14 kills, 15 assists and seven digs. Poth’s four losses that season were to New Braunfels, Bellville, Wimberley and Churchill (in five sets in a playoff warmup contest). Huffman, the championship match MVP, played at Iowa. Lauren Waclawczyk played at LSU and Laskowski at Sam Houston State. Wehmeyer played Division I basketball.

1979 Jefferson
Coach: Delo Dyer
Record: 33-2
Key players: Laura Neugebauer, Martha Carey, Sharon Neugebauer, Melissa Ledesma
The rundown: Paced by future University of Texas players Sharon and Laura Neugebauer, the Mustangs advanced to the state final before falling to Port Neches-Groves 16-14, 15-5 at University of Texas’ Gregory Gym. Sharon Neugebauer was a member of the Longhorns’ 1981 Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) championship squad while her sister Laura, after playing professionally, was a longtime coach at UTSA.

2009 O’Connor
Coach: Yami Garcia
Record: 40-4
Key players: Sarah Cardenas, Kaelen Valdez, Meaghan Patterson, Lauren Bohlen, Dominique Gonzales, Stacie Murrah, Beth Soukup
The rundown: While the 2017 and 2018 O’Connor teams made it to the UIL state tournament, this club might have been the Panthers’ deepest and most talented. O’Connor stunned nationally-ranked Reagan in front of a packed crowd at UTSA in the regional quarterfinals, before falling to Austin Westlake in the regional final. Gonzales starred at Penn State, winning two national titles. Cardenas is coach at Sotomayor and Valdez is coach at Taft.

2004 Churchill
Coach: Robin Gerlich
Record: 39-2
Key players: Samantha Dabbs, Jenny Banse, Kelsey King, Sarah Harris, Karis Fuchs, Maggie Baird
The rundown: The Chargers were simply dominant during the season, rolling off 33 wins in a row and earning a No. 3 national ranking. But a bid to advance to the state tournament fell one win short as defending state champion Clark topped Churchill 26-24, 25-23, 25-18 in the regional final.

1975 McCollum
Coach: Lupe Ruiz
Record: 33-1
Key players: Betty Campbell, Barbara Campbell, Maria Guerra, Martha Reyes and Ruby Garcia
The rundown: In the first season in which UIL volleyball was played in the fall after originally being a spring sport, McCollum had just one hiccup (lost to MacArthur at North East ISD tournament) en route to claiming the top prize. The Cowgirls topped Killeen 15-4, 15-11 in the state final after dropping Nederland 17-15, 15-1 in the semifinals. McCollum needed a furious rally in the regional final just to make it to state, scoring eight points in the final 56 seconds — volleyball used to have an eight-minute time limit per set — to overcome a 14-8 deficit and nip Austin Travis 16-14.