Lady Panthers Show Fight in H-J Tournament Battles

The Anahuac Lady Panthers may not have gotten the finishes they wanted at the Hardin-Jefferson Tournament, but one thing was evident throughout the weekend — these Panthers are not afraid of a fight.

Anahuac battled through a demanding tournament field, playing four matches over two days and taking three of those contests to a deciding third set. The Panthers finished the weekend with a 10-10 record after dropping a pair of 2-1 heartbreakers to Warren and Kountze on Saturday. 

The Panthers entered Saturday looking to bounce back after splitting their opening tournament matches. Anahuac opened the tournament with a 2-0 victory over West Orange-Stark, with Lanecia Schonberg leading the attack with four kills. Sky Hedges added four service aces, while Addi DeHoyos contributed three assists. 

Anahuac followed with a 2-1 victory over Evadale, giving the Panthers another hard-fought win. Brayli Van Vickle paced the offense with seven kills, while Hedges directed the attack with 11 assists. Addi Pierce anchored the defense at the net with two blocks. 

The Panthers then found themselves in a battle with Warren.

Anahuac pushed the Warriors to three sets but ultimately fell 2-1. Despite the loss, several Panthers turned in standout performances. Hedges finished with 15 assists, nine digs and two aces, while Brecken Wilpitz was busy on the back row, recording an impressive 21 digs. 

The Panthers had little time to catch their breath before facing Kountze.

Once again, Anahuac took the match the distance, but the Lions escaped with a 2-1 victory. Pierce led the Panthers with seven kills and added two aces, while Hedges recorded 16 assists in another strong showing from the setter. 

Although the weekend ended with four consecutive losses, the Panthers showed plenty of fight against quality competition — and that experience could prove valuable as they move into district play.

Several Anahuac players have established themselves as key contributors this season. Pierce leads the Panthers with 50 kills, while Schonberg has been a force at the net with 23 total blocks. Hedges has recorded 23 service aces and 102 assists, while Wilpitz has anchored the back row with 76 digs. 

The Panthers have already shown a willingness to battle through tight matches. Now, the challenge becomes turning those close contests into victories.

After last season’s struggles, Anahuac has already shown signs of a different kind of team in 2026. The Panthers are competing, battling and pushing opponents to the limit — and now they will look to carry that fight into district play.

Next up, the Panthers open district action Tuesday, September 8th, against the Hardin Lady Hornets.

The tournament may have tested Anahuac, but if the weekend proved anything, it is this:

The Lady Panthers are ready to fight.