TIGERETTES SWEEP BUSHLAND FOR 3A/D2 TITLE AFTER LOSING TO THE FALCONS IN ’24
BY CHUCK LICATA, GMSPORTSMEDIA INSIDER/CEO, BIG DADDY MEDIA
Photo by Matt Smith, Matt’s Photography
When their team gets to the UIL state championship match, head coaches are always looking for that “little something” to push their team “over the top.”
For the 2025 Goliad Tigerettes, that “push” may have come from an 18-wheeler.
As head coach Jess Odem explained it: the day before the title match against Bushland (which would be Friday, Nov. 21), the team finished its practice session at an off-site gym (the team would play Bushland at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland). The players and coaches were on the team bus headed back to their hotel when – while moving along in construction traffic – the back of the bus got bumped by an 18-wheel truck.
The good news for Goliad – everyone was okay and no one was hurt at all. Odem stated the girls were a bit shaken up.
Maybe that was the “shake” the Tigerettes needed, as they not only beat the defending Class 3A, Division I champion Bushland Falcons on Saturday at Garland, but they flat-out swept them.
Goliad (44-3 overall) earned the program’s third state title (the others came back-to-back in 2016-17) with a 25-22, 25-17, 25-16 victory over the Falcons (40-9). Junior Addison Yendrey earned match MVP honors with a match-high 20 kills (she also tallied seven digs, two assists and one block). The Tigerettes also avenged their loss to Bushland in last year’s 3A/D1 state championship match.
Bushland also had beaten Goliad in the 2020 Class 3A state title match.
“I came in knowing we had a tough task ahead of us,” stated Odem, who is in her 15th season with the Tigerettes. “Let’s face it – Bushland is Bushland, and (head coach) Jason Culpepper is a legend (12 total appearances at state for Culpepper, including five state titles). But with our height, our returners from last season and our confidence this year, I thought we had a legitimate shot at winning today.
“The season had its challenges, but for the most part the girls have worked hard and not only worked through the challenge but came out ahead. Their confidence was high and they supported each other all season long.”
Odem added: “Our community support is outstanding. We’re proud to be part of this community and represent them. This (championship) is as much for them as it is for the players.”
Besides Yendrey, senior Maevyn Wunch was a difference maker, tallying 14 digs, seven kills, five total blocks, one ace and one assist. Setter Isabel Sanchez actually contributed seven kills to go with a match-high 37 assists, two aces, three digs and two blocks. Talented senior libero Karolynn Youngblood dug out 13 balls, dished out three assists and had a service ace.
Other GHS contributors included junior Sophi Wallek (six kills) plus sophomores Kinlee Weiser (five kills, two digs and a block) and Ella Ulbricht (three kills, two digs and two total blocks).
Berklee Billington, a sophomore, had an outstanding match for Bushland, tallying a double-double with 18 kills and 11 digs and adding a block and two assists. Setters Jaida Scott (sophomore, 15 kills, four digs and a kill) and Morgan Eberly (junior, 17 assists, two digs and an ace) directed the Falcons’ offense.
Other BHS contributors included junior Laynee Adams (11 digs, six kills, one ace and one assist); senior libero Ava Permenter (18 digs, two assists and an ace); and junior Jori Clark (seven kills and two total blocks).
