Three years ago, there was no championship vision. The main objective, players recalled, was simply learning the nuances of a game and mastering the skills needed to play it.

But when New Braunfels Christian takes the floor at its home gym Tuesday for a TAPPS 3A state semifinal volleyball match, it likely will be about more than another high-stakes moment.

It will reflect the Wildcats’ quick ascension to the top of a sport.

Defending state champion New Braunfels Christian faces Round Rock Christian with a chance to advance to its third straight state final and play for its second straight title. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Wildcats (15-5) swept Round Rock Christian (21-4) in last year’s state final. This will be the second meeting this season between the schools, with Round Rock Christian — which is in the state semifinals for the fifth straight year — prevailing 25-22, 25-16 on Sept. 12 at S.A. Christian tournament. Round Rock Christian won state in 2017, was a state finalist in 2016 and a state semifinalist in 2018.

“Everybody’s expecting us to win state — and so are we,” New Braunfels Christian senior outside hitter Hailey Hamlett said. “We’re holding each other to the highest standard.”

Such a declaration is a reminder of how far and fast the Wildcats have progressed.

When legendary coach Phyllis Fowler came out of retirement in 2017 to lead the program, New Braunfels Christian could count on one hand its playoff appearances in this millennium — and would have a couple of fingers left over. Fowler, who led New Braunfels to two UIL state championships and five state-tournament appearances and Navarro to the state semifinals, is the area’s fourth-winningest coach with 733 victories. She was a stickler for fundamentals and goal-setting, and the approach produced instant dividends.

The Wildcats finished 26-7 and advanced to the second round. Fowler’s tenure, though, was short-lived. She resigned to become the head coach at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin.

Megan Dugie, who played volleyball at East Central High School and Texas Lutheran, was tabbed as Fowler’s successor. The team didn’t miss a beat. In fact, it reached unfamiliar territory.

“It was pretty discouraging and disappointing because we felt we had did some good under coach Fowler,” New Braunfels Christian outside hitter Camdyn Doucet said of the coaching change. “But when Dugie came, I just felt like we picked up where we left off. (The transition) was a lot easier than we thought it would be.”

The Wildcats reached the state final in Dugie’s first season in 2018, rallying after losing the first two sets before falling to Midland Classical in five sets. A year ago, they returned to the big stage and rolled past Round Rock Christian to claim their first state title.

“I think we would’ve all been pretty surprised,” Doucet said of the prospects of one day winning state as a freshman in 2017. “I think that we knew that we had potential, but I don’t know if we knew how great it could be.”

Thanks in large part to Division I prospects Doucet and Hamlett, New Braunfels Christian has been able to find out. Doucet signed to play beach volleyball at Stanford and Hamlett, who was a 5-foot-3 defensive specialist as a freshman in 2017 at Smithson Valley, then grew eight inches over the summer in 2018 before transferring, is headed to TCU to play beach. The duo has combined during their three seasons with the Wildcats for more than 1,800 kills, 222 aces and 247 blocks.

“I think there is a little bit of pressure, but it never really gets to either of us I feel like,” Doucet said of expectations for her and Hamlett. “I think it just motivates us even more because we want to put on a show. I was really, really excited when she came to the school. I think it’s just nice to have somebody that kind of has the same mindset.”

The mentality has New Braunfels Christian on the cusp of playing for the top prize. First, though, it has to get past an opponent that has recorded regular-seasons wins against it in each of the past two seasons. A year ago, the Wildcats came out on top when it mattered.

“Hopefully, this year it will be the same,” New Braunfels Christian senior Ellie Wineinger said. “It was definitely a wakeup call (losing to Round Rock Christian in September). I think we’ve come a long way.”

terrence@terrencesports.com
Twitter: @sa_terrence1