By Shield Staff
NRCA defeated the Charlotte Country Day Buccaneers 3-0 to capture the 2024 NCISAA 4A Volleyball State Championship, the Knights’ ninth title in 10 years.
In the championship match, seniors Tyra Listenbee and Zoe Richardson led the offense with 15 kills each.
Senior Hannah Taylor, sophomore Jenna Stefansky, and freshman Madison Muto also contributed to the Knights’ offense. Playmaker Brook Watkins, a junior, had 35 assists. Sophomore Kyla Artlip led the defense with 13 digs. Senior Taylor Lucas and junior Camille Donofrio also contributed to the Knights’ defense. The win brought NRCA’s season record to 19-4.
The Knights entered the playoffs as the No. 3 seed, defeating the No. 6 seed Cannon School Cougars 3-0 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, NRCA upset the No. 2 seed Wesleyan Trojans 3-1 on the road, clearing the way to the title game against the No. 1 seed, Charlotte Country Day.
Head Coach Chris Murray highlighted the ups and downs of the 2024 season that brought the championship trophy home to Raleigh.
“This season has been a testament to God’s faithfulness, and we’re grateful for every step of the journey,” she said. “Yet, to reach that goal, we first had to overcome a spirit of complacency and refocus on our team mission of ‘GOD, then TEAM, then ME.’ Guided by our team verse, 1 Corinthians 12:14—‘For the body is not one part, but many’—we embraced unity and a commitment to excellence. Strong leadership and a shared love for one another pushed us to grow and ultimately brought us together as champions. It’s a blessing to celebrate this success as one united team.”
Senior Hannah Taylor and the other players from the 2023 roster felt they had unfinished business from last year when they ended their season as NCISAA 4A Volleyball Runners-Up to Cannon School.
“From the start of the season, I and the other returners from last season knew that we had to take the championship back,” she said. The Knights prepared for states by working hard in team scrimmages, watching film on their opponents, and worshiping together before practice.
Taylor credited the coaches with ensuring the team had the laser-like focus they needed to win. She said, “Leading up to the finals, I felt so confident about the game. Our coaches had been pushing us the last couple [of] weeks, and that played a major role in our preparation. We constantly motivated ourselves and kept our eyes on our goal.”
Senior Ella Bennett, reflecting on the final volleyball game of the 2024 season, said, “I've won two state championships before, but, you know, Saturday was—I don't even know how to explain it. The energy—just with the Castle Crazies and everything... it was surreal, because we've worked so hard this season.”