Asheville Christian Academy brings 11th state title to Swannanoa

Lions volleyball team adds another championship banner with win over Cary Christian

The Valley Echo
November 5, 2020

The Asheville Christian Academy volleyball team brought a state championship back to the Swannanoa Valley, with an Oct. 31 victory over Cary Christian. The Lions celebrated their title with a photo after the game. Top Row from left to right: Grace Field, Emma Drake, Bobbi Ward, Ashley Wilhelm, Avery Jackson, Riley Shuman, Amelia Novak, Elizabeth Harrington, Maggie Bass, Katie Alexander, Peyton Hightower.

Bottom Row from left to right: Mia Burris, Kinsley Broome, Kaylee Hutzler, Emma Scanlan. Photo courtesy of ACA Athletic Department

Each October in the Swannanoa Valley, two things are virtually guaranteed.  The leaves change and fall, and the Asheville Christian Academy volleyball team adds another banner to their championship pedigree. 

Over the weekend, the Lions won their 11th N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association title with a thrilling five-set match, Oct. 31, against Cary Christian Academy.

ACA jumped out to an early lead beating Cary Christian 25-22 and 27-25 in two highly competitive sets.  Cary Christian responded in the next two sets leveling the match at two sets each. In the fifth and final set, with the score tied at 13, ACA’s Avery Jackson picked up a kill to give the Lions championship point.  Kinsley Broome served and when the ball came back over the net Katie Alexander pushed the ball into an empty Cary Christian corner securing the title for the Lions.

The week leading up to the final represented life in the new COVID-19 world as the Lion’s head coach, Torri Render, ran practice and coached the semifinal match against Coastal Christian via Zoom because of a mandated quarantine. Render’s quarantine ended on Friday night and she was able to travel with her team and coach from the sideline. 

After an emotional week, Render expressed her thoughts about the unusual season and her team’s championship effort.

“The girls played great,” Render said. “It was a battle but we came out on top. The team at Cary was really good and deserve a lot of credit. A tough battle for sure. I’m so proud of these girls for pushing through with me being gone and coaching through a quarantine on Zoom. Yet they still finished the season as state champs. I am beyond proud of this group.”

Multiple Lions filled the stat sheet in the final. Avery Jackson finished with 15 kills and 17 digs. Riley Shuman added 17 kills while Elizabeth Harrington picked up 11 kills. Katie Alexander ended the match with 50 assists, 20 digs, and six kills.  Peyton Hightower chipped in 14 kills and four blocks while Mia Burris added 10 digs.

For more information about Asheville Christian Academy visit ashevillechristian.org/athletics.