Antonian volleyball aims to defend TAPPS Class 6A state championship

Antonian's Abby Ibarra (17) is embraced by teammates after scoring a point against the Incarnate Word Shamrocks during the second set Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, at Antonian High School Gym in San Antonio. The Apaches swept the Shamrocks 25-11, 25-17, 25-13. (Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News) One year after ending a championship dry spell, Antonian returns to the TAPPS state volleyball tournament eager for a chance to notch back-to-back titles.The Apaches (45-4) play Tomball Concordia Lutheran (13-19-1) in a Class 6A semifinal at 7 p.m. Friday at Robinson High School. The winner plays the victor of the Fort Worth Nolan and Plano Prestonwood match that precedes it. The title game is set for 4 p.m. Saturday at Robinson.Antonian is one of two local teams at the TAPPS state tournament. Boerne Geneva plays Bryan Brazos Christian in a 4A semifinal on Friday at Waco's McClennan Community College.Antonian returns an experienced team, including five starters from the squad that defeated Dallas Bishop Lynch in four sets in 2025 to win its first TAPPS state championship in eight years and its sixth overall."From last season to now, we've definitely grown as a team, especially with all the new people that we have," senior middle blocker Maci Cantu said. "Honestly, I feel our chemistry is better than ever and I'm really confident going to state right now."Cantu, senior right side hitter Lucy Rote and sophomore outside hitter Jordyn Daniels return after earning all-tournament honors at state last season. Senior setter Camila Serna and junior outside hitter Abby Ibarra are also back."State is the end goal and the end result," Serna said. "This team does a lot of hard work and a lot of work behind the scenes that works really well for us."Rote, a fourth-year starter, is especially grateful to be back. She spent most of the latter half of the season nursing a high ankle sprain after rolling it during practice in mid-September. She missed a month as a result. She returned Oct. 15 and has played eight sets in four matches.Because high ankle sprains are notoriously slow to heal, Rote was initially concerned about not being healthy enough to return before season's end."There was always a little doubt that there was going to be a chance that I wasn't going to be able to come back," Rote said. "That upset me, but doing my rehab and doing my physical therapy was what made me come back so quick. And I came back at a good time. I've been able to practice a little bit and have some games before the state tournament." Antonian's Coralie Garza (5) is embraced by Jordyn Daniels, center left, Addison Rivera (7) and other teammates as they celebrate a point against the Incarnate Word Shamrocks during the third set Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, at Antonian High School Gym in San Antonio. The Apaches swept the Shamrocks 25-11, 25-17, 25-13. (Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News) Despite missing 12 matches, Rote still ranks fourth in total kills (211). Ibarra is first (314) followed by Daniels (249) and Cantu (218)."Lucy is one of our strongest and smartest hitters," Serna said. "She knows how Coach Mac (Samantha McClure) thinks and how to read the game. It's very crucial to have her back. All of our hitters are very smart and awesome, and I think Lucy is a key part of this."Several newcomers have provided boosts, including senior libero Kenadie Pina, a transfer from Churchill, who leads the team with 534 digs. Freshman Olivia Murray splits setting duties with Serna. Murray has 346 assists, while Serna has 748. Sophomore Emma McIver has 223 assists. McIver previously played at Devine for her mother Leigh Anne McIver before she retired following last season."Since the season has started, I feel like I've contributed a lot with a lot of the other girls, even the freshmen," Pina said. "I feel like we've all grown into the team and helped make the team better."The Apaches opened the season with 27 victories before losing back-to-back contests against Austin Westlake and Wylie at the Leander Volleypalooza. Three weeks later - without Rote - the Apaches went 4-2 at the Argyle Liberty Christian Showcase with the losses coming against Prestonwood and Dallas Hockaday.After that, Antonian closed the regular season with nine victories, locked up the TAPPS 3-6A title by extending a district winning streak to 52 matches and secured a playoff victory against Katy St. John XXIII in four sets.Antonian hasn't padded its victories against easy competition. The Apaches went 14-2 against UIL teams still in the playoffs. They went 11-1 against 6A schools, including a 2-1 mark against Austin Westlake. They went 2-0 against Lake Travis and Harlan. They went 1-1 against 5A teams, with a win against Boerne Champion and the loss against Wylie. The went 2-0 against Davenport and La Vernia from 4A."The whole point of us was to show us what we needed to work on going to the state tournament because those are the (type of) teams that we are going to see at the end of the season," Serna said.SubscribeThere’s more to San Antonio with the Express-News. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Antonian volleyball aims to defend TAPPS Class 6A state championship.