Team of young women in black uniforms raise a gold trophy together in a gym with cheering crowd in blue bleachers behind them. — The Bushland Lady Falcons celebrate after defeating Holliday to win the Region I-3A Division I championship Tuesday night in Childress. [Joe Garcia III/ Press Pass Sports]

CHILDRESS – Region I runs through Bushland, and it has for a near decade now.

UIL Region I High School Football bi-district playoff pairings

Top 10 performers for Week 11 across the Texas Panhandle and South Plains

High School Volleyball regional semifinal roundup – Canyon, Randall advance to Class 4A Division II regional championship; Bushland Lady Falcons soar past Boyd

The Lady Falcons were able to handle Holliday in a three-set sweep, 25-23, 25-20, 25-13, to claim the UIL Region I-3A Division I championship Tuesday night at Childress High School.

Bushland keeps a stronghold on the region advancing to the UIL state semifinals for an eighth straight year with all of those coming under head coach Jason Culpepper.

“It’s an amazing accomplishment to get back to the state semifinals,” said Culpepper, who has won 306 games and four UIL state championships in his eight years at Bushland. “Bushland volleyball has a great tradition and these girls make my job easy. We try and get better everyday. These seniors have been absolutely incredible.”

Five female volleyball players cheer and celebrate on an indoor court, wearing Bushland black jerseys and one white jersey with the number 2, with a blurred crowd behind them. — The Bushland Lady Falcons celebrate after a point against Holliday during the Region I-3A Division I championship Tuesday in Childress. [Joe Garcia III/ Press Pass Sports]

The Lady Falcons (38-5) will face a very familiar opponent in Gunter (32-16) in the Class 3A Division I state semifinals, which is set for 3 p.m. Saturday on the campus of Wichita Falls Legacy High School.

These two teams have met four times over the past six years with Bushland winning three of those four matches, including two of those in state championship games.

Holliday (37-9) did its best to fluster Bushland in the opening set. Behind a much bigger crowd, the Lady Eagles held a 16-13 advantage in the first set. The Lady Falcons didn’t flinch going on a 12-7 run to take the set behind a kill from middle blocker Jori Clark to seal it.

Female volleyball player in a black uniform reaches up to hit the ball, with a crowded blue arena in the background. — Bushland’s Berklee Billington had a team-high 13 kills against Holliday during the UIL Region I-3A Division I championship Tuesday at Childress. [Joe Garcia III/ Press Pass Sports]

The second set is where Bushland broke Holliday. The Lady Falcons serving was clutch, the striking at the net continued to be a problem as the Lady Falcons jumped out to a 9-6 lead. The Lady Eagles did make a push tying the second stanza up, 17-17, until Bushland put the pressure on behind the powerful arm of outside hitter Berklee Billington.

“I think the serving took the out of system,” Culpepper said. “We didn’t allow them to get a lot of free swings and we came back with balls. The offense got going and we took over from there.”

The third set was complete domination. Bushland opened the final set on an 11-4 run. Then leading 16-11, the Lady Falcons outscored Holliday 9-2 to finish off the game fittingly on a Billington kill in the middle of the floor to split the Holliday defenders.

When Bushland needed a big point Billington stepped up. The junior finished the night a team-high 13 kills and was just as impressive on defense hitting the floor for 19 digs for a double-double.

“I’m eager and hungry to get back to the state semifinals,” Billington said. “I am just trying to stay calm and confident. I have picked up the scoring role and I’m honored they go to me when a point is needed. I’m always ready and I know what to do.”

Female volleyball player in a black uniform serves the ball indoors, gym banners in the background. — Bushland’s Jori Clark had a game-high five aces against Holliday during a Region I-3A Division I match Tuesday in Childress. [Joe Garcia III/ Press Pass Sports]

Teammate Laynee Adams was key in the win landing 11 kills with 16 digs for a double-double of her own.

“It’s really exciting to get back to the state semifinals,” Adams said. “There was some nerves in this match but I think there is a lot of eagerness to go down and win a state championship. We just wanted to stay calm and we did a great job of serving the ball.”

Clark was the catalyst at the serving line with a team-high five aces. Morgan Eberly and Jaida Scott combined for 36 assists and Charley Freeman played outstanding on the back row with 20 digs.