The Summit Christian Academy Varsity volleyball team opened their season with energy, earning 3rd place at the Sugar & Spike Tournament, hosted by Memorial Christian in Killeen August 15th and 16th.
Head Coach Melissa Hinnant and Assistant Coaches Shonna Jones and Grace Mac Leod led the Eagles in their first competition of the year with a young squad, consisting of four sophomores and six freshmen. While early tournaments can often come with nerves and unknowns, the team quickly found their rhythm.
“The girls have been working really hard in preseason training not only to improve their skill, but to work fluidly as a team,” said Coach Hinnant. “That’s tough with such a young group, especially so early in the season.” The tournament hosts, Memorial Christian, had beaten the Lady Eagles on their home court last season, so the young team expected to be in for a challenge.
After shaking off first-match jitters, the Eagles fought back from a 7-point deficit to close their opening day with a perfect 3-0 record. Highlights included middle blocker Faith Mac Leod’s quick attacks, freshman libero Sienna Hinnant’s precise passing, and Ashley Burnett’s serving streak that built momentum and got the crowd energized for the win.
On day two, Summit carried momentum forward with a dominant 25-6, 25-15 win over Memorial Christian, the very team that had defeated them at home last season. After unexpected lineup changes in the semifinals, the girls battled hard, ultimately finishing in 3rd place overall.
This impressive start sets a strong tone for the season ahead and has fans and coaches excited for what’s to come. The Lady Eagles are currently 7-1 in preseason play, and play their home opener against Divine Savior on August 26th at 6:00pm.