Experienced APA team looks to defend state championship Saturday

Arendell Parrott practiced Thursday in preparation for its NCISAA 3A championship game against Grace Christian Saturday at North Raleigh Christian. Photo by Junious Smith III / Neuse News

By Junious Smith III

Arendell Parrott Academy is one win over a familiar opponent away from a second straight volleyball title.

The Patriots travel to North Raleigh Christian Saturday for a noon game against Grace Christian in the NCISAA 3A championship. APA won its first volleyball championship in school history last year and is playing in its third straight finals. The Patriots are 20-3 and ranked as the No. 6 team in the state according to Maxpreps, and though the Eagles are impressive in their own right (21-3 record, No. 18 in the state), they haven't been able to fly against their EPIC conference counterparts.

Since APA coach David Barnes took over in 2015, the Patriots have won all six of their contests against Grace, including matches on Sept. 26 and Oct. 8 this year. Only one game was decided outside of straight sets, a five-set thriller on Sept. 27, 2018.

Barnes said the progression of the team over the years, along with the familiarity of the opponent, could play a vital part in Saturday’s game.

“We’ve won the conference championship each of the past five years and gone deeper in the postseason each year,” Barnes said. That first year, we were in the quarterfinals and there were jitters, and the same thing in the semifinals the next year. We lost in a five-set match in the Finals against Asheville Christian (in 2017) before breaking through against Caldwell last year in another five-set battle.

“We know what to expect at this stage and we know Grace Christian will come out ready. We have to play well, and knowing we've been able to defeat this time five times over the past two years, all the pressure is on Grace. They don't know what to expect at this stage and that could work to our advantage.”

 Although APA may have history on its side, Mackenzie Pope said the team won't take Grace Christian lightly.

“(We) have to come in focused Saturday and play our best,” Pope said. “we know that we can beat them, but we have to have the confidence in ourselves and Coach will lead us there.”