Lady Falcons will play for a third straight UIL Class 3A state championship

With their season on the line, the Bushland Lady Falcons had to claw and scrap for every point during the UIL Class 3A Division I state semifinals on Saturday at Wichita Falls Legacy High School. This wasn’t just another playoff match—it was a test of heart, grit, and championship DNA. And when the dust settled, Bushland had proven once again why its program is the standard in Texas small-school volleyball.

With their backs against the wall time and time again, this young Lady Falcons squad dug deep and found a way, rallying past a determined Ponder team in a five-set thriller, 23-25, 25-14, 28-30, 25-21, 15-11. The victory not only marks their 40th win of the season—improving to 40-8 overall—but also secures a chance at a three-peat state championship. Bushland will chase win No. 41 and a third straight title when they face Goliad (43-3) at 11 a.m. Friday at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland.

The semifinal began with Ponder (30-13) applying pressure early behind standout outside hitter Kennedy Simon, who kept the Lady Falcons off balance with her power and consistency. Every point felt like a battle, especially in a marathon third set that saw Ponder outlast Bushland 30-28 to take a 2-1 match lead. In that moment, the Lady Falcons’ season hung in the balance.

But championship programs don’t fold—they respond.

Bushland showed the championship poise that has defined its dynasty. Instead of fading, the Lady Falcons elevated. They tightened up defensively, swung more aggressively, and leaned on the experience of players who have been in pressure moments before. The result was a gutsy fourth-set win followed by a commanding, confident performance in the decisive fifth.

Offensively, Bushland’s hitters delivered one of their most complete efforts of the season. Berklee Billington was everywhere—knocking down 20 kills while adding 17 assists for a hard-earned double-double. Laynee Adams was equally fierce, hammering 18 kills of her own. But perhaps the biggest spark came from Jori Clark, who surprised Ponder with an explosive 18-kill performance. The trio combined for 56 kills, overwhelming the Lady Lions when it mattered most.

As strong as the offense was, the defensive story was just as impressive—and maybe even more crucial. Libero Ava Permenter turned in the match of her life, recording a jaw-dropping 56 digs. Time and again, Permenter laid out to keep rallies alive, frustrating Ponder hitters and giving Bushland chance after chance to climb back into sets. Her performance will be remembered as one of the great defensive displays in the program’s history.

In the end, this win was about heart. About refusing to let go of a championship dream. About a program that expects to play on the final weekend—and a group of players unwilling to let that tradition slip away.

Now, only one more challenge remains.

Goliad awaits in Garland, and the Lady Falcons are one win away from cementing themselves as a true Texas volleyball dynasty.