As the previous two seasons concluded for the Antonian volleyball team, the prevailing sentiment carried a familiar refrain.

Wait until next year.

When the Apaches overcame key losses to graduation last year to make another deep postseason run with a new cast of talented and determined players — only to fall short vs. the same opponent and its roster loaded with Division I prospects — the drum beat grew louder.

Wait until next year.

Wait for when Cari Spears, the 2024 national player of the year, is lighting it up for No. 4-ranked Texas. Wait for when Jadyn Livings is off doing her thing for No. 6 SMU.

Wait until next year.

As Antonian coach Samantha McLure rose from her seat late in the third set this past Saturday, the finishing touches on a 25-20, 25-20, 25-19 win over rival Incarnate Word in a TAPPS 6A regional final all but a formality, she walked a short path in front of her bench with a knowing smile.

The Apaches (42-13) were headed to the state tournament for the fourth straight season and the 12th time in McLure’s 20-year tenure. They will play Austin St. Michael’s (36-12) in the first of two semifinal contests at 10 a.m. Thursday at Waco Robinson High School. Fort Worth Nolan (24-11) faces Dallas Bishop Lynch (22-13) in the other semifinal.

“I think seeing what they saw last year kind of put that hunger into them,” McLure said. “This year, just being successful against those big 6A teams, they realized we can perform on that level. If they stay together, they can do it.”

The biggest obstacle for Antonian the past two seasons was Plano Prestonwood, which lineup featured six Division I players. The 6-foot-3 Spears led the way en route to winning three straight state championships, including vs. Antonian in 2023 and 2024.

“She’s like national player of the year as a freshman,” McLure said of Spears, who has been named national player of the week once and SEC player of the week on two occasions. “It’s funny, people see her and they’re like, ‘That’s what you play against?’ “

Spears won’t be around this season. And neither will Prestonwood. Dallas Bishop Lynch topped the Lions 24-26, 25-22, 25-20, 25-21 in a regional final, snapping Prestonwood’s 70-match winning streak vs. TAPPS opponents.

“I feel like this year is different than the past years,” Antonian junior Lucy Rote said. “This team has so much heart and drive to win. Now that (Prestonwood) is out of the playoffs, we have to watch the other teams and see how they play, and set our minds.”

Led by outside hitters Olivia Hernandez, Abby Ibarra, Emma Copeland, Rote and Jordyn Daniels, setters Camila Serna and Anais Ibarra, libero Carley Leal and middle blocker Maci Cantu, the Apaches truly began to believe it could win it all this year during a tournament in the Dallas area in late September. They finished the tournament with a 6-1 record, but the pivotal moment came during a 17-25, 25-23, 15-12 loss to Prestonwood in the final. For McLure, it was a win-by-losing moment.

“I think it would have been a detriment to us by winning that game,” she said. “Losing that game focused them a little more.”

terrence@terrencesports.com
Twitter: @sa_terrence1