Third times a charm for Gunter as Tigers sweep Bushland for 3A state volleyball title
.jpeg "Gunter beat Bushland in straight sets to win its first volleyball state title.")
Gunter finally got over the hump of Bushland as the Tigers swept the Falcons 29-27, 25-23, 25-20 in the UIL Class 3A state volleyball championship on Saturday at the Culwell Center.
Gunter finishes the year 43-6 and wins its first title in program history.
The Tigers made the trip to state for the third straight season, but was beat out by Bushland (41-4) during the previous two years, including the 2021 state championship and 2020 state semifinals.
Rayanna Mauldin was voted state champ MVP with 16 kills, seven digs and two blocks.
The opening set went as planned as both teams battled back and forth for the early edge. Gunter doubled up Bushland 8-4 with an ace from Chloe Johnson, leading to the Falcons timeout. UT-San Antonio bound Miranda Putnicki smashed a kill in the middle and Johnson scored to make it 12-8.
Bushland pulled within 16-15 and even led 18-17 before a Mauldin kill tied it. Gunter scored three in a row for a 20-18 lead. Hanna Rubis hit a solo block and Gunter led 23-21. The Tigers had set point, but Bushland got a Gunter error and a kill to tie it at 24.
The Falcons would have three chances to take the set, but the Tigers pushed back and finally came out on top for a 1-0 lead.
Gunter led in the second again, but Bushland tied it at 12. Putnicki had a couple blocks and a kill to put the Tigers up 17-12 for a Bushland timeout. After the Falcons tied it 19, Rubis’ block gave Gunter the 20-19 lead.
Bushland tied it at 23 before Gunter closed it out for a 2-0 advantage.
The Falcons pulled within 20-18 in the third, but the Tigers controlled most of the set to finish off the sweep and the state championship.
Rubis and Putnicki had eight kills each. Johnson and Madison Smith added seven and six. Briley Singletonn and Elle Whitteker had 16 and 12 digs to lead the Gunter defense. Adilynn Henry and Brelee Mauldin ran the offense with 23 and 20 assists.
