Decatur players now have their sights set on another piece of history, the program's first area title. The Lady Eagles (36-6) will get their shot at reaching that goal this week when they open the playoffs against the winner of Tuesday's bi-district match between Whitney and Burnet.
The area match will be played between Thursday and Saturday.
"We're very determined," said Decatur senior Carmen Cash. "This has been a goal since the beginning of the year to get that first playoff game and be the first team to get past area.
"This is our year," Cash added. "We want to get all the way to state."
By winning the District 5-3A title, Decatur earned a bye through bi-district to the area round. Decatur coach Claire Rose said her team has the opportunity to write a new chapter in the program's history, but it will not be easy.
"We've never made it past the second round," Rose said. "Each playoff game is a new goal. Everyone's goal is to get to state. But you have to focus on each game.
"This is what we've worked for," she continued. "You can't go into any game and expect it to be easy. All the competition is going to be good. You have to play each point like it will be your last."
That message has resonated with the team's four seniors - Cash, Fleming Smurthwaite, Holly Harrison and Claribel Trejo.
"We want to leave everything," Cash said. "For most of us, when we're done, we're done for the rest of our lives. It's important we leave it all on the court."
Decatur had its 14-match winning streak snapped Friday in a warm-up against Nocona.
Decatur fell 25-15, 14-25, 25-21, 25-12. Sara Oxford put down nine kills, and Smurthwaite added seven. Smurthwaite also had six blocks 13 digs and 25 assists.
Rose said it was not a sharp match for her team.
"We hope we got that out of our system," Rose said. "The last time we lost was to them in a tournament."
The coach added that the team still has a few weaknesses they are trying to iron out.
"We hope before the playoffs start that we can turn some of those weaknesses into positives," Rose said.
