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CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL: Hanner caps FBCA career as State Champion
WACO - Bailey Hanner has ridden the ups and downs that have come with her high school career much like a surfer.
There have been coaching changes - Alex Edwards being her third head coach in four seasons. There was the COVID-19 pandemic that affected her junior season, limiting the number of matches she would play. But in the end, the Texas State volleyball-signee got the storybook ending she rightfully deserved.
After posing for a group photo with a pair of gold TAPPS medals hanging around her neck, the Fort Bend Christian Academy senior let out a scream while hoisting the TAPPS 5A Volleyball State Championship trophy into the air.
"It's such an amazing feeling to me," Hanner said. "It's been a crazy four years for me here. I'm so blessed that Coach Alex was here to come and change this program around and bring home a state championship.
"Of course, I wanted to go out with a bang for my senior year."
VYPE 🎥: Fly Eagles Fly!@FBCAVolleyball captured the program's first-ever State Championship on Saturday. Relive the day!! #txhsvb
(@FBEagles @baileyhanner_ @averyhodgee @sheastone_ @KFColonel19 @TAPPSvolleyball @KPRC2RandyMc @KPRC2Ari @HTownHSS @KPRC2Vanessa @BayleighMinor) pic.twitter.com/EXZ2gK1S7e
— VYPE Houston (@vypehouston) November 20, 2021
In the past two seasons, Hanner has played in 186 sets for FBCA, racking up 798 kills (4.3 kills/set), 415 digs, 112 aces, 91 blocks and 38 assists.
But what made this season different than others? What made this team - one that would finish 35-4 overall and as the 2021 TAPPS 5A Volleyball State Champions - tick?
"The chemistry and the depth was the biggest thing," Hanner said. "The seniors were close. We all played together before. Also, the freshmen - Bayleigh Minor and Layne Bulow, they're just so amazing and so young still. I can't wait to see how they develop."
As Hanner prepares to trade in her green and black of FBCA for the maroon and gold of Texas State, the final chapter of her legacy on 7th street in Sugar Land, Texas is finally written with two words - State Champion.
"It hasn't really set in yet," Hanner said. "I'm so glad that all my work for this school and program has paid off. I'm so happy that Fort Bend Christian volleyball is on the map now.
"Everyone knows who we are now."
Never Give Up: Ajimotokan overcomes bumpy start to career to become State Champion
WACO - Fort Bend Christian Academy sophomore Oyinkansola Ajimotokan lives with the mentality to never give up.
That mantra has carried her through her volleyball career, which didn't begin with her actually playing on the court, but rather watching from the stands.
"In the sixth grade I didn't play but I went to all the volleyball games," Ajimotokan said. "I wanted to play. In the seventh grade, I was a practice player."
But Ajimotokan wanted to play at FBCA. She wanted to play volleyball.
Finally, in the eighth grade Ajimotokan made the team as a middle. The next year, she started playing club volleyball which elevated her game to the next level and earned her a spot on the Junior Varsity squad in her freshman season. By the end of last season, she had moved up to the varsity squad but just coming off the bench.
Another club season came and went this past summer and Ajimotokan got even better. Her hard work earned her a starting spot on Alex Edwards' 2021 FBCA varsity volleyball squad.
On Saturday, with FBCA leading 24-17 and just one point away from their first-ever TAPPS Volleyball State Championship, after a stellar dig the ball was set into the air in the middle by Shea Stone. Launching from her spot was Ajimotokan - the sixth grader who couldn't make the team and the seventh grader who was just a practice player - who hammered the ball with her right hand.
"When I hit, I closed my eyes and I heard the block, 'I was like oh man I just got blocked'," Ajimotokan said. "But then I opened my eyes and the block was in the net. I was like 'Oh my God, yes!'. I just won the last point."
IT'S OVER!!!! For the first time in program history @FBCAathletics Volleyball are STATE CHAMPIONS!!!!! #txhsvb
#txhsvb @FBEagles @baileyhanner_ @averyhodgee @sheastone_ @KFColonel19 @TAPPSvolleyball @KPRC2RandyMc @KPRC2Ari @HTownHSS @KPRC2Vanessa @LSCSN @BayleighMinor pic.twitter.com/yGJS1nn5jG
— VYPE Houston (@vypehouston) November 20, 2021
As the ball hit the court, the score ticked up to 25-17 on the scoreboard inside West High School and celebratory pandemonium set in, except for Ajimotokan, at least initially.
"I forgot it was the last point," Ajimotokan said with a laugh. "So, I turned around, I saw everyone on the ground and I just jumped on the huddle."
Jumping onto the pile as a state champion is something Ajimotokan couldn't stop smiling about. And thanks to her "never give up" mentality, was one she got to fully experience on the court instead from in the stands.
"It gets hard sometimes and you feel like you're not really adding anything to the team, like I had an up and down year this season but I had to keep the mentality to never give up," Ajimotokan said. "I have my family and friends surrounding me, supporting me and loving me so I just needed to never let myself get down."
VYPE Postgame 🎙: FBCA sophomore Oyinkansola Ajimotokan who had the final kill talks with us after. #txhsvb @FBEagles @baileyhanner_ @averyhodgee @sheastone_ @KFColonel19 @TAPPSvolleyball @KPRC2RandyMc @KPRC2Ari @HTownHSS @KPRC2Vanessa @LSCSN @FBCAathletics pic.twitter.com/PlBdPo3gUC
— VYPE Houston (@vypehouston) November 20, 2021