The Saints Varsity arrived to the Iowa Field House early for the final day of the National Homeschool Volleyball Tournament ready to play in the Gold Bracket.
Their first match of the day was a familiar team, the Austin Royals Varsity. The Saints had played Austin Royals twice during the season and won both meetings. Today’s meeting was the same song, third verse as the Saints won the match.
| Set 1 | Set 2 | Sets Won | |
| SA Saints Varsity | 25 | 25 | 2 |
| Austin Royals | 22 | 21 | 0 |
The next opponent was another Texas team, the THESA Riders. The Saints claimed the first set, then the Riders pulled out a two point win in the second set. The final set was all Saints as the ladies pulled out all the stops to make sure they reached the championship game.
| Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Sets Won | |
| SA Saints Varsity | 25 | 23 | 15 | 2 |
| THESA Riders | 14 | 25 | 4 | 1 |
The championship match pitted the SA Saints versus the CRU Blazers from Illinois. Each team left everything on the court as they tried to win the championship. The Blazers took the first set, but the Saints put up a fight in the next set competing to a 26-24 loss.
The final set went down to the wire just like the second, but the Saints were not able to win either of the last two sets to push to extra sets.
| Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Sets Won | |
| SA Saints Varsity | 17 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| CRU Blazers | 25 | 26 | 26 | 3 |
The Saints fell to the Blazers in three sets in the final match of the tournament and of the Saints season.
Individual Awards
At the end of the ceremony Vanessa Burton was voted to the All Tournament Team. The award is given to only a few players and nominations were given by the coaches.
A Note From The Coach
As the Saints 2022 season comes to a close Saints Director and Head Varsity Coach Edie Miller shares some words about the season and the bright future of the program.
This season has been amazing program wide. Amazing- not perfect. I say that often because I never want to be that program that puts on a fake front. There is no perfect program and no perfect season, but I will take amazing any year.
I think most people would say that I believe this year is amazing because of our success, especially on the varsity level. While that success (TAIAO State Champions and 2nd at the Homeschool National Volleyball Tournament in Omaha) has been part of it, it is so much more.
We have gained so many new and vibrant families that blend so well into our program. The level of energy and excitement found in our parents during games reminds me of one of the reasons I love coaching. Watching our Saints parents cheer on their players, seeing the pride of their kiddos represented in the faces, makes my heart smile. Watching our players cheering for each and encouraging each other to be the best they can be is one of my greatest rewards.
Above all this year, though, it’s my girls. My girls are amazing. They’re selfless, they’re strong, they’re brilliant, they’re over-comers. They are truly amazing!
Coach Edie Miller