BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @gosset41
X – @gmsportsmedia1
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Six seniors saw the court inside the Culwell Center last November – another three on the bench as Decatur defeated Bellville in four sets to win the Class 4A D1 state championship.
Several of those 2025 seniors even went on to play in college.
Despite a large senior class that graduated and only three returners that played in the title game, the Eagles are back in the state semifinals after taking down Springtown 25-20, 25-19, 23-25, 25-14 in the Class 4A D1 Region 1 champ game on Monday in Justin.
“We knew it was going to be a dogfight and they were never satisfied. I’m proud of the girls and their intensity and grit,” said head coach Stormi Snider, who’s in her second year with the Eagles.
Decatur finished off the regular season 11-3 in District 7-4A.
One of those losses came against Springtown 3-1 on Oct. 3 – which forced the two teams to meet for a third time to determine seeding. Springtown won again, in straight sets on Oct. 27 – just before the postseason got underway.
The Eagles knocked out FW Southwest, Stephenville and Canyon West Plains to set up a fourth matchup against Springtown. The loss during the third meeting vs the Porcupines proved to be beneficial for Snider and her Eagles.
Snider said it was a shift in mindset and left a bad taste in their mouth.
“We kind of got complacent in that game and what we were doing wasn’t working,” Snider said. “It wasn’t where we wanted to be, but it made us better and because of us losing the last two to Springtown and the route we had in the playoffs – that’s a big reason why we won.”
As far as the three players back, that includes senior setter Grace Fortune, junior libero Hope Escobar and junior middle Harper Smith. Overall, 10 from last year’s state champ roster didn’t graduate in the spring so Snider did have some experience and youth back.
Fortune put in 18 assists and eight digs vs Bellville while Escobar (nine digs) and Smith (five block assists) also played in all four sets.
“We had a quick reset and we told ourselves we weren’t going to lose to Springtown again,” said Fortune, who’s committed to McMurry University. “It’s good we’re a young team because we have a lot to prove.
“Some of the younger faces want to show it and they’re just as big for this program. We want to go as far as last year’s team and we have a lot to live up to.”
The Eagles are 40-7 with their most wins since 2014. They take on Lindale (33-14) in the 4A D1 semifinals at 4 pm Saturday from Fort Worth’s Wilkerson-Greines Center.
Including the seeding game, Decatur had 30 matches against a playoff team in the regular season – some of which weren’t from Texas. In those games, Snider’s bunch posted a 23-7 record.
“This team comes in every day and gives their best, and is always working hard,” Snider said. “We love each other and we’re one big family. We’re always celebrating each other and picking each other up. Losing to Springtown those two times did not sit well with us. We weren’t going to lose to them a third time.”
In their previous six trips to state, Decatur won a championship. Meanwhile, the Eagles’ opposition on Saturday – Lindale – is at the semifinals for the first time since 1994. Also nicknamed the Eagles, Lindale edged out Celina in five sets during the 4A D1 Region 2 final.
