This past weekend, the State Volleyball Tournament took place in Sapulpa for the smaller schools in Oklahoma. After being one of eight schools in the 3A class size to earn a spot at the tournament, the Corn Bible Academy Lady Crusaders volleyball team played its final game.
The team finished its season with 19 wins and 14 losses. One of those wins came in the Regionals Tournament where they defeated Chouteau-Maize in an upset victory to earn a spot at the State Tournament.
Perhaps the most impressive part of the Regional game came about when senior Chloe Nelson served a perfect set and led the Lady Crusaders to a 25-0 victory in the first set against Chouteau-Maize who hosted the tournament and was favored to win.
“That was such a special game,” coach Erin Basinger said. “When wer got the first several points, you could feel all the momentum swinging our way. It was incredible focus on Chloe’s part to stay that consistent in her serving. The rest of the team was incredible as well. To be able to play error-free for an entire set is incredible.”
“When I kept getting to serve and the score was 19, I prayed God might let me have one more chance, and when it got to point 24 I almost cried because it was so overwhelming that God was listening. When we won, I couldn’t believe it,” Nelson said.
She said her team beat the odds when they made it to the State Tournament. “I hate that it’s over, but we did what no one thought was possible with this group. We made it to state,” Nelson said. “I will forever be grateful because there is no other people I would’ve rather played with.”
Basinger commented on the season as a whole and said she saw each player grow in her ability to work together. “I’m proud of how the girls finished as a team,” she said. “Each of them improved this season and they learned how to play as a team and support one another. The win at Regionals against Chouteau-Maize showed how far they came this year and how well they could play when they worked together.”