By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The New Covenant Academy Lady Warriors continue their conquest into unprecedented territory.
A week after capturing their first district title (according to program records), the Lady Warriors have an even loftier achievement to celebrate.
NCA is headed to the state volleyball championships for the first time ever after outlasting Miller 3-2 (25-23, 27-25, 20-25, 20-25, 15-8) in a thrilling Class 2 quarterfinal at Evangel University in Springfield on Saturday afternoon.
“This means so much,” said NCA senior outside hitter Addison Cuquet. “Our school is really small. It’s so big for us that even though we come from a small school, we have such a great team. To be able to win, it means so much. I’m so excited.”
NCA (27-4-3 overall) will face St. Vincent (26-6-2 overall) in the Class 2 semifinals at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at the Civic Arena in St. Joseph.
For NCA, a private Christian school in Springfield with an enrollment of 156 students, the next few days will be preparation and planning at a fever pitch level.
“This is so new to all of us,” said Lady Warriors coach Chenille Gaumer. “This is new for the girls. I don’t really know what to expect, but I’m super excited to look at our next opponents up there. We haven’t seen any of those teams ever.
“We’ll just take it one step at a time, see who we have and scout them really well and be ready to go.”
Miller standing in the way of NCA’s final four quest was fitting.
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NCA was on a four-game losing streak to the Lady Cardinals, which included a 3-2 home loss this season and a 3-1 defeat in last season’s district title match.
“This was the most highly anticipated game of the season,” Cuquet said. “It’s insane that we beat Miller because we haven’t beat them (in my career).”
The Lady Warriors came out on fire and took the first two sets before Miller finally asserted itself. NCA trailed 15-10 in the fourth set and rallied back to it 18-all, before the pendulum swung Miller’s way again.
“I think we got depleted a little bit because we had really long rallies,” Gaumer said. “I think both teams were depleted. I just told the girls, ‘Dig down deep.’ I knew after losing those two, we would jump back and come strong in the fifth set. I knew they would do that.
“For some reason, they got their energy back in the fifth. We just kept playing little games to five. Get to five first, then the next five and the next five. That was our goal.”
After a 7-all tie, NCA went on an 8-1 run to close the fifth set and clinch victory.
The Lady Warriors’ balanced attack was on display again Saturday. Through district play, five NCA players have 140 or more kills. Cuquet and freshman Kiera Edwards lead the way with 225 kills apiece.
Setters Chloe Hurst (320 assists), Addy Mouery (312 assists) and Addison Crain (197 assists) direct the offense in NCA’s 6-2 system.
“This is the best team I’ve ever been on in my entire life,” Cuquet said. “It is so amazing. Everyone works so hard together. Everything flows so well. We just have a lot of great people this year and I’m so thankful for all the effort everyone’s put in.”
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During summer training and preseason practices, Gaumer said she outlined goals for the upcoming season. Making state was one of them.
“I knew this was probably the best NCA team we’ve had so far. I knew we could do it. (The players) just needed to know it,” Gaumer said.
“The thing that’s huge about our team is our unity. The girls love each other, they have fun. We have not had one issue the entire season of girls being mad at each other or things like that. For me, when I played, that is just huge to have that team chemistry. That’s what I’ve tried to push since day one.”
Miller finishes 31-5-1 overall. The Lady Cardinals won their sixth district title in seven years this season. They’ll graduate a star-studded senior class that includes Ashlynn Helton, Rachel Nunez and Loghann Leivan (1,043 combined kills this season entering Saturday’s match), along with setter Camden Stockton (1,016 assists).
