Volleyball history: Grapevine, Liberty Christian play outdoor match, face 20 mph winds
Fans packed Warrior Stadium, home of the state-championship-winning Liberty Christian football program.
Unlike most athletic contests under the bright lights, there were no snaps or tackles. On Tuesday, Oct. 29, Liberty Christian and Grapevine played the first outdoor stadium volleyball match in the history of Texas high school sports.
Grapevine defeated Liberty Christian in four sets, winning 26-24, 25-20, 16-25, 25-12. The exhibition match, dubbed the Showdown at Sundown, was played on a Taraflex court used for the last three NCAA championships.
“I’m just really grateful,” Grapevine head coach Robyn Wallace said. “Not everybody gets this opportunity.”
Liberty Christian head coach Megan DeGroot was told the match would normally take months to plan, but after a connection provided proper flooring, the court was put on an 18-wheeler and shipped to Argyle the next day.
“It just kind of all fell into place,” DeGroot said. “Perfect timing. God definitely had a hand in this.”
Cowboys legend Jason Witten, head coach of Liberty Christian football, and his players were in attendance supporting Warrior volleyball.
Unlike all other indoor volleyball matches, the elements were extreme and unpredictable. Athletes had to serve, pass, and attack through heavy winds that reached 20 miles per hour.
Wallace said that all aspects of the game were different, especially considering switching sides changed how wind impacted play. Given the harsh conditions, Wallace told her team to “go have fun.”
“That’s the most important part of tonight,” Wallace said. “You’re history makers tonight. Both teams are.
“Tonight isn’t going to be about who plays better volleyball. It’s going to be about who can adapt and adjust the best. ... Switching sides was a huge factor.”
Although Liberty Christian had beach players on the squad, the conditions were still a lot to handle.
“You have to kind of change your game plan,” DeGroot said of the wind. “You’ve got to make sure that you’re passing the ball a lot lower.”
DeGroot told her team to savor the experience because it’s something you may never do again.
“For us to be one of two teams able to do that -- I think it’s helping revolutionize volleyball,” DeGroot said.
She added helping to trailblaze new events for women’s athletics means a lot because she has a daughter and wants to see a better future in women’s athletics for her and also her current players, who she views as family.
On Aug. 30, 2023, Nebraska volleyball made history with a stadium match packed with 92,000 fans.
Of course, Warrior Stadium cannot draw a crowd that large. The support shown in Argyle makes a difference on a smaller scale at a local level. The Showdown at Sundown is a newfound achievement for any Texas high school program, and it can pave the way for similar events.
“It’s meaningful because we made history. Together,” DeGroot said. “It shows (the athletes) that we care. And I think they are going to carry that on for the rest of their lives. They are always going to remember that.”
Grapevine volleyball (11-23, 6-6) is heading to the UIL playoffs following a fourth-place district finish.
“Tonight was everything we needed,” Wallace said. “Learning to adapt and adjust is going to be a big piece for rolling into the playoffs.”
Liberty Christian volleyball (30-7, 6-0) has won consecutive TAPPS D2 state championships and is looking for a three-peat after a move to division one. Despite the success, DeGroot said they haven’t seen fan support compared to the turnout at Warrior Stadium, even in the state title matches.
“We don’t get a lot of fans,” DeGroot said. “And that’s sad to say because these girls deserve it. They work hard, but it just happens to fall at the same time as other important sports. Tonight, for everyone to show up and show out for something like this -- It’s really awesome.”
This story was originally published October 29, 2024 at 9:28 PM.
.jpg)