In a remarkable display of skill and determination, Olivia Theis spearheaded the Pieper High School Warriors to a decisive victory over the Churchill Chargers on September 1, 2026. The Warriors triumphed in straight sets, winning 25-18, 25-21, 25-21, during a non-district match held at the Churchill High School gym. With this win, Pieper improved its season record to 15-12.
Theis, a senior middle blocker and a pivotal figure in Pieper's offense, delivered an outstanding performance, leading her team with 11 kills and four blocks. This match was particularly special for Theis, as she notched her 500th career kill, a significant milestone for any athlete, especially for a middle blocker. "It feels pretty good," Theis remarked about reaching this achievement. "It feels like an accomplishment that I’ve been waiting for a little while. For a middle (blocker) to have 500 kills, it’s a great accomplishment. It just shows how hard you can execute, and I think it reflects the amount of time and work and effort that I’ve put into this program. Beating this benchmark feels really, really nice."
Pieper's head coach, Courtney Patton, praised both teams for their effort during the match. She noted that the competition was intense, with both sides showcasing strong defensive plays and exciting rallies. "I think both schools battled for it," Patton said. "The second and third sets were a good defensive game on both sides of the net. A lot of really good rallies and I think lots of really good effort plays on both sides of the net. That makes for a fun match." Patton emphasized the importance of this victory as the team approaches the start of their district race.
Theis' powerful presence at the net was complemented by her teammates, Reese Driffill and Emery Gingrich, who combined for 16 kills in the match. Gingrich contributed nine kills, while Driffill added seven, showcasing the depth of talent on the Warriors' roster. Patton highlighted the effective strategies employed by her outside hitters, noting their adaptability against a formidable defense from Churchill.
In the first set, Theis set the tone early on, leading Pieper to a 25-18 victory with six kills and two blocks. The Warriors quickly established a commanding 9-2 lead, fueled by a 7-1 run that featured three kills from Theis. The second set saw Churchill mount a comeback, led by senior outside hitter Olivia Huereca, who recorded 14 kills throughout the match. Huereca's efforts nearly turned the tide in the second set, as she helped the Chargers close a 19-13 deficit to just one point before Pieper secured the set with a late scoring surge.
Churchill continued to fight in the third set, even taking the lead for the first time in the match. However, Pieper's resilience shone through as they finished strong, closing out the match with an 8-4 run. Theis, Driffill, and Gingrich each contributed crucial kills during this decisive stretch.
With this victory, Pieper has now won three consecutive matches and will face Clark in their final non-district match on Friday at Pieper High School. The Warriors, competing in their first year in Class 6A, are set to begin District 27-6A action next Tuesday against San Marcos. Meanwhile, Churchill, now with a record of 23-5, will look to regroup as they prepare for their final pre-district match against Boerne before starting District 28-6A competition next Tuesday against Clark.
Churchill coach Julianne Ehrlich reflected on the match, acknowledging the areas where her team needs improvement as they approach district play. "I thought it was well fought," Ehrlich said. "There’s a lot of things that we have to respond to better in these games that we’re seeing the other side of the net a little bigger against us. So, we would need to step up more defensively, and I think that’s overall where we were able to see what we need to work on some more."
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