Brenham's volleyball team could have gone a couple of directions after coming within one point of reaching the state tournament last year, only to lose in the regional final for a second consecutive season.

Cry me a river didn't fit the Cubettes. They decided to sweat one.

"We knew we had to be tougher than we were last year," Brenham coach Debbie Yeager said. "It wasn't what they did to us; it was the way we respond to our success and our errors. We have to be tough and know that we've worked so hard that we're going to score that last point. That's the level I feel like they're at now."

Brenham's girls produced that last point Saturday, beating District 18-4A rival Montgomery 20-25, 25-10, 25-23, 25-14 to qualify for the UIL state volleyball tournament for the first time since 2004. The Cubettes (40-6) will play top-ranked Richardson Pearce (44-5) in the Class 4A semifinal round at 7 p.m. Thursday in San Marcos.

The Cubettes had a history of heartbreak at the Region III tournament before Saturday's victory. Brenham lost in the regional final three times since the 2004 trip to state, including each of the last two seasons. Friendswood beat the Cubettes in 2007. Magnolia edged Brenham last season when the Cubettes served for the match before losing in five games.

"It's sickening when it happens, but we knew that was something we couldn't control for the next year," Yeager said. "They all promised each other that they were going to work really hard this year and be mentally and physically tougher. It was really exciting to see it all come together for them."

The regional history could have been like weights around the Cubettes' ankles, an extra burden, but it wasn't.

"It wasn't a case of them thinking, 'Oh, my goodness, we're going to get beat again.' They never thought like that," Yeager said. "They always think about winning. It's just an attitude they have. It's a really neat group of kids.

"They work so hard physically in practice on the little things. Going in as prepared as you can possibly be is something that makes you feel good. We knew what was ahead of us, and we planned for it."

Brenham returned all but one player from last year's team. The Cubettes will head to San Marcos with a nice mix of experience and youth, led by seniors Bethany Yeager, Emily Albus, Kelsey Schwartz and Haleigh Schulze. The lineup includes juniors Caroline Young, Jacy Lee and Molly Duge, sophomore Jill Sikes and freshman Kelsey Weynand.

It is a group familiar with high achievement. Yeager has signed to play volleyball at Iowa, while Albus is a three-time softball All-American who has signed with Texas A&M. Lee's older brother Jarrett plays football at LSU. Weynand's older sister Jessica plays volleyball at Texas State and plays her home matches in the Strahan Coliseum where the Cubettes will play Thursday.

Even though they ended a three-year struggle by winning the regional, don't expect the Cubettes to arrive at the state tournament feeling satisfied.

"These kids have worked so very hard to win state," Coach Yeager said. "They don't just want to go to state. You can get caught up in being there and relax. We showed up [Monday] morning, and the seniors were knocking at the door, saying we've got to get after it."

The victory over Montgomery was especially sweet for the coach and her daughter, who made The Eagle's All-Brazos Valley first team in each of her first three years on the varsity. Bethany ran to her mother for an emotional hug when the final game ended.

"That was a special time for us," Coach Yeager said. "We don't get to spend a lot of special time, because we spend a lot of time with teamwork and all the girls are very important. That one hug was worth four years of good, hard work."

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Former Lady Hornets make UIL All-Century Team: AUSTIN -- Former Caldwell standouts Beth Karasek and Jane Anne Karasek have been selected to the first team of the University Interscholastic League All-Century Volleyball Team in voting by fans.

The honor teams were chosen based on more than 14,000 votes as part of the UIL's Centennial Celebration.

Caldwell's Karasek sisters were members of the 10-player first team, which included four players from Round Top-Carmine as well as Burleson's Stacy Sykora, who played for Texas A&M and the United States Olympic Team, and former A&M player Courtney McCrocklin of Wimberly.

Former Milano star Rebekah Melton made the second team, along with San Antonio Clark product and current Aggie player Mary Batis. Former A&M player Melissa Munsch of Columbus also was chosen to the second team.

The list includes a couple of players who've become stars in other sports, with San Antonio Southwest's Destinee Hooker (high jump) on the second team and Duncanville's Tamika Catchings (basketball) on the third team.

UIL All-Century Volleyball Team

First Team: Kristi Bauer, Round Top-Carmine; Christy Eilers, Round Top-Carmine; Heidi Finke, Round Top-Carmine; Haley Goebel, Round Top-Carmine; Katy Jameson, Alvin; Beth Karasek, Caldwell; Jane Anne Karasek, Caldwell; Courtney McCrocklin, Wimberley; Stacy Sykora, Burleson; Amelia Waak, Round Top-Carmine.

Second Team: Mary Batis, San Antonio Clark; Destinee Hooker, San Antonio Southwest; Leslie Kopecki, Poth; Rebekah Melton, Milano; Michelle Moriarty, Houston Stratford; Melissa Munsch, Columbus; Demetria Sance, San Antonio Jay; Stacy Schmidt, Bellville; Heather Schreiber, Windthorst; Whitney Wehmeyer, Poth.

Third Team: Erin Aldrich, Richardson Lake Highlands; Tamika Catchings, Duncanville; Heidi Gillingham, Poth; Holly Graham, Devine; Aimee Huffman, Poth; Jackie Jansky, Poth; Laura Neugebauer, San Antonio Jefferson; Sue Schelfout, Houston Clear Lake; Tiffany Schmidt, Bellville; Jo Beth Schreiber, Windthorst.