Strong start propels Antonian volleyball to sweep over rival Incarnate Word

A strong service game from sophomore Jordyn Daniels set an electric tone that Antonian rode to a 25-11, 25-17, 25-13 home victory against rival Incarnate Word on Tuesday.

The Apaches improved to 39-4 overall and 2-0 in TAPPS 3-6A. Antonian extended its district winning streak to 48 games, a stretch that goes back to 2020.

“It’s important for us to start off games really well,” senior setter Camila Serna said. “I think having a team as successful as ours and as energetic as ours, it’s just really helpful. You carry that momentum from beginning to the end.”

That strong serving allowed senior outside hitter Abby Ibarra to get unleashed early as she recorded three of her match-high 15 kills in the early sequence for a 9-1 lead. Antonian led 16-8 when Daniels took the serve again later in the set and extended the lead to 20-8 with three more kills by Ibarra.

“It was really important for us to keep them out of system in order for us to get easier balls and be able to run the offense better,” said Daniels, an outside hitter and defensive specialist. “I think we did a good job of that. Starting not just with me serving, but also my teammates receiving the ball and being able to put them away.”

The early setback prevented the Shamrocks (18-15, 0-1) from establishing any rhythm. The second set was back-and-forth through the first half. Lorena Gomez put Incarnate Word ahead 9-6.

<

Antonian’s Jordyn Daniels (12) spikes the ball over Incarnate Word’s Emma Rodriguez (13) and Loren Gomez (2) during the first set at Antonian High School Gym in San Antonio, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. The Apaches defeated the Shamrocks in three sets: 25-11, 25-17 and 25-13. (Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News)

The Apaches answered with a 5-0 run before taking a 19-13 lead on a kill by Cora Mendez-Valdez. The Shamrocks didn’t get closer than four for the rest of the second. Antonian never trailed in the third set before closing it out.

“We got a good lead, and it gave us good energy for the game, and it set the tone for the game,” said Ibarra, who is committed to UT-Rio Grande Valley, whose coach, Todd Lowery, was in attendance. “I feel (Daniels) going out there and taking care of business helped us go higher in the game.”

Daniels, the 2025 Express-News Newcomer of the Year, had 13 kills, 15 digs and four aces. Serna had 28 assists and 11 digs. Senior libero Kenadie Pina had 25 digs. Senior Seren Gomez had nine kills.

Serna and freshman setter Olivia Murray, who had 11 assists, found their big hitters with consistency.

“Having options is great as a team,” Serna said. “It makes me be able to move the ball on the court and know that I can trust everyone out there to do their job.”
<
Antonian played without senior right side hitter Lucy Rote, who has a high ankle sprain on her left foot. Antonian hopes to have her back by the next Incarnate Word match, which is scheduled for Oct. 15.

Rote led the team in kills (194 in 51 sets) before she was injured. She was the Apaches’ leading attacker last year as they won the TAPPS Class 6A state championship.

The Apaches are finding their footing after going 4-2 at the Argyle Liberty Christian Showcase. Losses came against TAPPS powerhouse Plano Prestonwood and Dallas Hockaday of the Southwest Preparatory Conference.

Ibarra said the team learned how to manage difficult circumstances during the tournament, which will be useful as the Apaches make a final push toward the playoffs as they look to defend their state crown.

“No matter if we are down, we can always come back,” Ibarra said. “There were some matches when we were down and we ended up coming back. We ran out of subs, and we still found out how to work with that. I feel that prepped us for the rest of the season because we know what to do when we get in certain situations like that.”