Clark Water Polo to Face Hebron in State Semifinal

The San Antonio team will play Lewisville Hebron for a spot in the state championship match on Friday.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Swimming

Expressive sports illustration of water polo players reaching for a ball in a natatorium, showcasing dynamic motion and team colors. — The Clark girls water polo team will compete against Lewisville Hebron in the UIL state semifinals on Friday at the Josh Davis Natatorium. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Following a narrow regional final victory over Harlan, the Clark girls water polo team is set to compete in the UIL state tournament semifinals on October 23, 2026. They will face the undefeated Lewisville Hebron squad at the Josh Davis Natatorium.

Why it matters

This matchup serves as a crucial hurdle for Clark as they look to advance to the state title game. A win on Friday would secure their place in the championship match held on Saturday.

Clark enters the match with a 26-3 record, supported by Ali Maldonado's 113 goals and Maddie Halliburton's 116 steals. They face a 26-0 Lewisville Hebron team that previously defeated Clark 11-4 in a mid-August tournament.

The players

Clark High School

This San Antonio high school maintains a 26-3 record and has advanced to the UIL state water polo tournament.

Lewisville Hebron

This team holds a perfect 26-0 record heading into the state semifinal match against Clark.

Ali Maldonado

She is the leading goal scorer for the Clark girls water polo team with 113 goals this season.

Maddie Halliburton

She serves as a defensive leader for Clark and currently leads the team with 116 steals.

Colette Dreher

She is the primary playmaker for the Clark offense with 54 assists recorded during the season.

The details

Clark qualified for the tournament after a hard-fought 14-13 win against Harlan in the regional final. Key contributors include Colette Dreher with 54 assists and Halliburton, who recorded 7 goals in the regional final match.

The regional final against Harlan took place on October 17-18, 2026.
The state semifinal match against Hebron is scheduled for October 23, 2026.
The state title match will be held on October 24, 2026.

Season Trajectory

This semifinal clash acts as a critical rematch following the 11-4 defeat Clark suffered against Hebron in mid-August. Success here would mark a significant shift in Clark's season narrative as they look to overcome their only dominant rival before the title match.

Clark must overcome a significant statistical deficit from their previous meeting with Hebron to advance to Saturday's final. Success in this semifinal dictates the bracket path for the final championship game at Josh Davis Natatorium.

The takeaway

Clark must utilize their high-volume playmakers to bridge the scoring gap against an undefeated Hebron defense. Staying disciplined on defense will be essential for Clark to reverse their previous tournament result.