GARLAND, Texas — The Flour Bluff Lady Hornets made Coastal Bend history, bringing home the first State Volleyball Championship since Freer in 1994. A five-set thriller against McKinney North ended in favor of Flour Bluff 24-26, 25-15, 23-25, 25-20, 15-10. Senior Talia Rodriguez hit the game winner.
"It just became like okay this next point and this next point," Rodriguez said. "We weren't looking too far ahead. Like I know Maggie started asking, I just ask for two more points, okay now I ask for one more point. It was just taking it step by step and seeing what was in front of us."
Flour Bluff senior Margaret Croft won MVP honors. She led the court with 28 kills and added 20 digs. Croft signed with Southern Methodist University volleyball a few weeks ago.
"It's just what you work for in club, in the offseason and any clinic," Croft said. "State was always something that was on my mind. Not only going to state, but winning because if you're going to state why not win. It just means the world that I was able to be blessed with a team that works so hard and truly gives it all they have."
Flour Bluff head coach Kara Wallace is now a 2-time state champion. She won as a player with Hutto in 1999, 25 years ago.
"You know have rallied around us, and I think it's been such an inspiration to people to be able to come together as a community," Wallace said. "For them they get to leave their legacy for what can still come in South Texas. People sometimes discount us, so hopefully now we can put ourselves back on the map and I can't even say enough about these kids leadership."
Flour Bluff junior setter Lola Fisher totaled 40 assists and libero Addison Mayo tallied 26 digs.
"Just pushing ourselves within the program I think is what helps us the most," Fisher said. "I think we know that at Flour Bluff everyone has a role, and even if your role is not on the court your role is to push somebody else and make everybody the best version they can be."
2024 UIL State Volleyball All-Tournament Team 5A-D1
Margaret Croft, Flour Bluff senior
Alyssa Thornton, Flour Bluff sophomore
Lola Fisher, Flour Bluff junior
Gabi Rodriguez, McKinney North junior
Allyn Brewer, McKinney North junior
Kinley Elms, Aledo senior
Blair Thiebaud, College Station junior
Coastal Bend Volleyball State Tournament History
- Flour Bluff (2024 5A-DI State Champions)
- Tuloso-Midway (2017-5A State Semifinals, 2016- 5A State Semifinals)
- Sinton (2011-3A State Semifinals)
- King (2010-5A State Semifinals)
- George West (2002-State Semifinals, 1993-State Runner-Up)
- Freer (1998-2A State Semifinals, 1994-2A State Champions, 1990-3A State Semifinals)
- Refugio (1986-2A State Runner-Up, 1985-3A State Champions, 1984, 3A State Semifinals, 1981 3A State Semifinals, 1980 3A State Runner-Up, 1972-2A State Champions, 1971-2A State Runner Semifinals, 1970 2A State Semifinals)
- Ben Bolt (1979-B State Runner-Up, 1978-B State Semifinals)
- Gregory-Portland (1975-3A State Runner-Up, 1972-3A State Champions, 1971-3A State Runner-Up, 1970-3A State Semifinals, 1968-3A State Runner-Up, 1967-2A State Runner-Up, 1966-2A State Champions)
- Banquete (1970-1A State Runner-Up, 1969-B State Semifinals, 1968-B State Runner-Up)
