The crowd roared wildly as the Lady Eagles passed high fives around before the state semi-final game began. The anxious energy could be felt throughout the gym as the Lady Eagles faced the Robinson Rockets in the game that would determine who would advance to the state finals on Saturday, Nov. 21.

The Eagles came out victorious over the Robinson Rockets with a score of three sets to zero in the state semi-final girls volleyball game at the Curtis Culwell Center on Thursday Nov. 19 in Garland, Texas.

“We all have the same common goal of wanting to win state more than anything,” said senior Emma Malone (8). “We’ve been training all season just for this game on Saturday. It’s brought us together as a team, and it’s helped us.”

The first set of the game began with high energy as senior Eighmy Dobbins (1) scored the first point of the game with a powerful spike. As the game went on, the Lady Eagles fell behind the Rockets who were up 12-7. After a timeout from Robinson, the score read at 20-15 with the Lady Eagles still trailing behind. A sly tip by Dobbins brought the score to a tie at 23-23. The set ended with an Eagle win with a score of 26-24 after the Robinson Rockets missed a serve from Dobbins, and the crowd went wild. The student section and community members that came out to support roared in support of their Lady Eagles.

“The student section really peps me up and keeps me going through the game,” junior Maddie DeGuire (2) said.

The second set of the game began with a killer spike by junior Allison White (7). As the game progressed the Lady Eagles slammed the ball to the ground bringing them to a 13-12 lead. An ace by junior Halee VanPoppel tied the score 16-16. After a serve by DeGuire and a block by Dobbins, the Eagles brought the score up to 22-19. To end the second set, the Eagles were pronounced victorious with a score of 25-22. The Lady Eagle’s teamwork throughout the season has impacted their performance in a positive way, a contributing factor in their 41 in 7 season.

“By this point in the season, we all love each other, and this team is awesome,” Malone said. “It’s just a really great group of girls.”

Game three was kicked off with a point by the Eagles after the Rockets hit the ball out of bounds. An ace by number six on the Robinson team brought the score to 6-5 with Argyle struggling to keep their lead. A spike by Malone brought the score to 10-8 with Argyle still maintaining their lead. After a serve by number three on Robinson’s team, VanPoppel dove to recover the ball making the score 19-11. A serve by senior Meagan Dealy (12) and a block by number three on the Rockets gained a point for Robinson bringing the score to 15-23, Argyle. The state semi-final game was brought to a close with a score of 25-15 after Dobbins slammed the ball into the opposing court with an aggressive spike. The Eagles’ skillful performance throughout the games showed their dynamic teamwork and true passion for the game.

“We all want this so bad,” Malone said. “We have all worked so hard.”

The Argyle Lady Eagle volleyball team will advance to the state finals the concluding game of the season against Bushland at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, TX on Saturday, Nov. 21 eager to  claim the state title. Lots of nerves surround the upcoming game this Saturday, but the girls believe in the team’s ability to win.

“I hope that tomorrow we can still win as a team and that everything will go as we hope it will,” Malone said.