Cuero defeats Lady Hounds in postseason opener

KERRY BARBOZA Sports Editor

SEGUIN – After not making the playoffs last year, the main goal for the Boerne High volleyball club this year was to qualify for the postseason.

The Lady Greyhounds achieved that goal and opened the 4A playoffs Monday in Seguin against 28-4A winner Cuero, and while the Lady Gobblers went on to win the match, Boerne gave them all they could handle.

Cuero claimed the victory, 25-15, 22-25, 25-18, 25-18 to end the Lady Hounds season with a record of 21-20.

BHS coach Tisha Pettibon said her team gave a great effort Monday.

“I was so proud of them, they played hard, they played together and they fought for every point,” she said. “What more can you ask for as a coach?”

Ava Rocchio was the only Boerne player who had ever been to a playoff match and that was two years ago in 2021 vs. Pleasanton.

Even then, Rocchio was a move up from the freshman squad and never saw the court against Pleasanton.

With no playoff experience on the team, Boerne was a little wide-eyed in that first set and fell behind early before losing 25-15.

“We were having a little panic attack, realizing we were in a playoff game that first set,” Pettibon said. “They had never been on a stage like this.”

Boerne settled down and played its best set in Game 2. They served well but were trailing 18-21. Pettibon called a timeout and it worked. BHS outscored Cuero down the stretch, 6-1, to win it, 25-22.

“We finally started passing more in system so we could terminate in serve-receive,” Pettibon said.

Boerne had chances in that third set and were within one at 16-17 but couldn’t get any closer. Cuero then closed it out in the fourth set after jumping out to a big lead.

The Lady Hounds only graduate one senior, Morgan Naylor, and while Pettibon said she will miss Naylor, the coach added that she’s excited about the future.

“(Naylor) was a huge part of us getting here,” the coach said. “ I told the returners, ‘remember the feeling and let it fuel you for next season.’” Rocchio led the team with 15 kills, Kinsley Sawyer dropped in 3 aces and had 13 digs, Aubree Stegall added 10 kills, Paige Stegall recorded a block, Calynn Ramos tallied 31 assists and 13 digs, Adyson Hudson came up with 2 aces and 25 digs and Haley Wheeler finished with 20 digs and 2 aces.