The Greenhill girls volleyball team had enough second-place
trophies. After finishing as the runner-up in the Southwest
Preparatory Conference tournament eight times in the last 10
years, Greenhill wasn't going to settle for anything less than
gold.
The team took home its first SPC championship trophy on
Friday by knocking off Fort Worth Trinity Valley, 15-10, 15-7.
"After eight times, it becomes cumbersome," Greenhill coach
Michelle McGuire said. "Trinity Valley beat us the last two
years in the final. It was really sweet to beat them this
time."
The victory extended Greenhill's win streak to 20 matches
and brought the team's final record to 35-9. The last time the
team lost was Sept. 1 when it fell to Amarillo Tascosa in the
Arlington Tournament.
Greenhill faced several Class 4A and 5A teams that are
still playing in the University Interscholastic League
playoffs, including Red Oak and South Garland.
"Mentally we have an edge when we go into our conference
because of the schedule we play," McGuire said. "They were
very poised going into the semifinal and the final."
Elizabeth Barnwell led Greenhill with 11 kills and seven
blocks in the championship game. Barnwell, Autumn Erickson and
Lauren Schanbaum were all-conference selections. Schanbaum, a
setter, is the team's only senior.
The Greenhill boys volleyball team (45-0) captured its
third-consecutive SPC title. With the win in the finals over
Oklahoma City Casady, the Hornets are undefeated in SPC play
since the finals of the 1998 tournament.
