Teaching the Mind, Training the Heart
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2007 Coastal Conference Champs (10-0)!
SCACS 2-A State Runners-Up!

Volleyball Season Does Not End in October for "The Two Kristas"

Although the conference and state volleyball season ended for most of the Lady Crusaders, two of them continued to prolong their season. Junior Krista Melton and sophomore Krista Hodges decided to join a traveling team in Florence to sharpen their skills for next season. Beginning in late November, the teams began practice and games. The teams play in several large weekend tournaments in North and South Carolina against some of the top talent in the state. Krista Melton plays in a 17 and under team, while Krista Hodges plays in a 16 and under team.

In mid-April the team ended their winter and spring season in a huge tournament in the Charlotte Convention Center. Over 30 teams from the state converged on 16 sport courts, and the sound of teammates cheering, whistles blowing and volleyballs being hit echoed in the complex. The teams played Friday night from 7:00 pm until after midnight, often playing two matches back-to-back. Next, it was up early on Saturday for quarterfinal play from 10:00 am until two in the afternoon. After some much needed rest, the girls returned to the center on Sunday for an afternoon of semifinal and final play.

When asked if they were improving in this league, Krista Melton said, "Oh yes. I am moving around all the time. I have to be everywhere, so I love it. I get to hit from the right and the left side. I even hit a few left handed shots yesterday." Krista Hodges added that her serves have gotten much better. She served the final six points to win a match Saturday morning. "I love the chance it gives me to get better. I jump better, and I have to know all the rules because they make us referee and keep score in these matches."

"This exposure to elite-level volleyball enhances the entire team, because these players will turn around and share what they have learned with their teammates," said Coach Randy Down. "It can only mean great things for us in 2008. I hope many of the players will take advantage of some skills camp opportunities this summer so we can be the best team in the state this fall."

Krista Hodges' 16-and -under team huddles prior to play - Krista Melton's team prepares for a match in an adjoining court.

Krista blocks an opponent's spike - Krista returns a spike with a spike

Krista delivers a hard spin serve - Krista M pounds home a spike

Krista H hits two spikes from the middle hitter position

Another Hodges block!

Krista Melton runs to her hitting position - later she hits from the left side

She calls loudly for the serve as it approaches - waiting at the net for a teammate's serve

Another serve by Krista Hodges - and another block!

Krista hits one hard - she jousts at the net as she is double-teamed on a spike

Krista Melton reaches to spike - she races to greet a serve with a libero

The team lines up to receive serve - Krista hits one in a stretch

Krista Melton goes high to spike - another ace for the server!

Three Lady Crusaders Named to All-Conference Team
Junior Laney Williamson, Senior Courtney Sims, and Junior Krista Melton

The South Carolina Association of Christian Schools honored ECS, the undefeated Coastal Conference champions, with three representatives on the All-Conference team. The award winners were Laney Williamson, who was the team leader in assists (343), second in service points (261), second in aces (58) dinks (36), and dig saves (86). Senior Courtney Sims was also named to the All-State team and led the team in aces (100), service points (308), and was second in kills for points (226), left hand kills (5) and dinks for points(41).
Krista was also named to the All-State team and was the team leader in blocks for points (51), kills for points (239), first-hit spikes (48) and tied for second in service points (261).

Congratulations!!

Lady Crusaders Finish Second in Final to Defending Champions Hampton Park

For season statistics, click here!
(pdf file)

In addition to receiving the state runners-up trophy, the Lady Crusaders were presented with the Coastal Conference Award for their 10-0 record, and Senior Courtney Sims (25 points, 6 aces, 13 kills) and Junior Krista Melton 13 points, 2 aces, 10 kills) were named to the State All-Tournament Team.

Emmanuel Completes Regular Season 10-0 in Conference in Win Over Calvary!

Calvary Christian was a team on a mission Monday night – they needed to win two of their final three games to make the playoffs next week. Meanwhile, the ECS players had time to think about the prospects of an undefeated season in SCACS Coastal Conference volleyball. As a result, the match turned into a struggle for survival that Emmanuel (14-2, 10-0 Coastal Conference) eventually won in four games, 25-22, 25-14, 22-25, 25-15.

Calvary came out with a scrappy, defensive style of play that kept the offense-minded Crusaders unable to break open a string of points. Calvary outhustled the Lady Crusaders on loose balls, catching them out of position as they took a 19-17 lead in the first game. A comeback spike by Krista Melton brought the serve back to ECS, and senior co-captain Courtney Sims unleashed an ace to begin a three point comeback to take a 21-19 lead. Calvary’s next serve was put away by Krista Hodges, but neither team could get a serve over the net, creating a score of 24-22. Finally, Krista Melton broke the service drought with a hard serve that was played out of bounds for the game point for ECS.

Game two saw the Emmanuel team that has run through each conference opponent with relative ease this season. They came out serving well, with Laney Williamson hitting six straight with two aces. Melton and Hodges continued to hammer home spikes, with Melton hitting a thundering spike inside the ten-foot line that helped the Crusaders establish a 13-2 lead they never relinquished. After exchanging points through some spirited rallies, Williamson served the game’s final two points to seal the 25-14 win.

The Lady Crusaders were unable to put together a consistent game in the third game, committing in six unforced service errors which ignited the Calvary crowd and the Patriot players. The Patriots began to chip away at the Crusaders and took a lead of 14-12 and then 20-16 on three more unforced service errors by the Crusaders, who ended game three with 13 side out serves.

Game four had the crowd in the game on each point, and the Patriot sniffed an upset. After four service rotations, neither team was able to mount a sustained attack. Melton and Hodges produced two kills and Sims had a pretty dink over two defenders that seemed to lift the Crusaders. Sophomore Krista Hodges then went to work on some precision serves that disarmed the Patriots. Williamson and Sims combined for two smashes that increased the Crusader lead to 15-7. Setter Caylee Carpenter had a surprise hit that gave the Lady Crusaders some needed momentum. Melton added another kill for her 18th of the match, and Hodges had one more spike (12 kills for the match) and then junior Caitlyn Bell, who had not served all night, served a deep serve that the Patriots were unable to convert that gave the Lady Crusaders the match and an unbeaten Coastal Conference season. Coach Down was relieved after the game. “This was not an easy win. Calvary played hungry tonight. One of our goals was to win the conference. Finishing 10-0 was a real blessing. These girls fight hard to improve every day in practice, so it’s gratifying to see them finish this part of the season undefeated. Now we have to get ready for the playoffs. We need to ratchet our game up a notch or two before next week.”

The Varsity Team
Standing, from left: Assistant Coach Cindy Smith, Emily Williamson, Sierra Quick, Bridgette Smith, Laney Williamson, Caitlyn Bell, Caylee Carpenter, Krista Hodges, Krista Melton, Karen Bullard, Paten Hall, Head Coach Randy Down
Bottom row: Katie Wyrick, Courtney Colboch, Taylor Bell, Courtney Sims, Rachel Carmona, Casey Plummer, Mallory James

The JV Team
From left, standing: Coach Cindy Smith, Bianca Rogers, Aimee Bell, Bridgette Smith, Chelsea Auman, Chelsea Zeigler, Lauren Miller, Sierra Quick, Morgan Gabriel, Kristina Griggs, Brittany Jacobs, Coach Randy Down
Bottom Row: Jordan Longenecker, Millie Rogers, Katie Wyrick, Emily Williamson, Chyenne Vernarsky, Breanna Whitehead, Olivia Skipper, Priscilla Barr