Evadale volleyball season ends in Kirbyville

Dylan Busby publisher@jasperconews.com Jasper County News EVADALE — The Evadale Lady Rebels saw their volleyball season come to an end in the opening round of the playoffs, falling to Hemphill in straight sets, 3-0, at Kirbyville High School. The loss brought an end to a season in which Evadale battled through a competitive district schedule and earned a postseason berth with a third-place finish. The Lady Rebels concluded their 2026 campaign with a 17-20 overall record, including a 4-4 mark in district competition. Despite entering the playoffs with a losing overall record, Evadale demonstrated enough consistency during district play to secure one of the coveted postseason positions and extend its season beyond the regular schedule. Hemphill proved to be a difficult first-round opponent, sweeping the Lady Rebels in three sets to advance to the next round. For Evadale, the loss marked a disappointing conclusion to a season that featured both challenges and accomplishments. Finishing third in district required the Lady Rebels to compete against familiar opponents throughout the conference schedule, ultimately winning half of their eight district matches. That performance was enough to keep Evadale in the playoff picture and provide the program with another opportunity to compete on the postseason stage. Although the Lady Rebels were unable to extend their playoff run, the experience gained throughout the season should provide a foundation for the program moving forward. The playoff appearance also gave Evadale’s younger players an opportunity to experience the heightened competition and expectations that accompany postseason volleyball. For the team’s seniors, the match against Hemphill represented the final chapter of their high school volleyball careers. As Evadale turns its attention toward next season, the Lady Rebels will look to build upon their third-place district finish and develop the consistency necessary to compete for a higher position in the standings. While the postseason ended earlier than Evadale had hoped, the Lady Rebels finished the year among their district’s playoff qualifiers.