Arendell Parrott won its second straight championship after Saturday’s victory over Grace Christian at North Raleigh Christian. Photo by Laieke Abebe / Neuse News

By Junious Smith III

RALEIGH — Not only did Arendell Parrott Academy win its second straight championship, the Patriots did it in style.

APA defeated Grace Christian 25-14, 25-20, 25-17 in the NCISAA 3A state championship Saturday at North Raleigh Christian. The Patriots (21-3) won their first title in school history last year in a five-set thriller against Caldwell Academy, but didn’t need to go the distance against the Eagles (21-4).

Since David Barnes took over as head coach of APA, the team is 7-0 against Grace Christian, six by straight sets. On Saturday, the Patriots only trailed for three points the entire match.

“To follow up again this year, I’m really lost for words,” Barnes said. “God has really blessed this program — I really don’t know of a stronger volleyball program in the state in the last three seasons. We’ve got kids, they work hard and it’s great when that hard work pays off.”

The teams split the first six points of the game before the Patriots went on a 6-0 run, highlighted by two Virginia Edmondson blocks and a Mackenzie Pope kill. Grace Christian got within 10-6, but consecutive kills from Alli Grant Avery kept the Patriots in front and the Eagles wouldn’t get within five for the remainder of the set.

“We just had a great fanbase, we counted on each other and Coach had faith in us, so we were ready to go,” Pope said.

In the second set, a Pope ace and Avery kill triggered a 5-1 run to start, but Grace Christian fought back. A slew of kills form Kaeli Braswell helped the Eagles claw back and the team took the lead on a Sally Perez kill at 13-12. The teams traded runs and Braswell’s kill had the Eagles up 18-17, but Avery responded with a spike to set up a 6-0 run. Pope’s kill ended the set and put APA ahead 2-0.

“I feel so blessed to be a part of this team,” Edmondson said. “We’ve worked so well together on and off the court and I’ve learned so much. I’ve been able to develop my game with Coach Barnes and I couldn’t ask for a better season.”

In the third set, Grace Christian scored the first point, but aces from Pope and Lauren Richardson keyed a 5-1 run. The Eagles got within 11-9 after a block from Braswell and Perez, but the Patriots responded with four straight points—including a Pope ace, Avery kill and Jordan Ibegbu block. The Eagles never got within four from there.

Fittingly, the final point of the game came from an Avery kill, set up by Pope. The seniors started for five years on the team and end their careers with a 108-11 record, five conference championships, three state title appearances and two titles.

“We’ve had the best five years,” Avery said. “It’s been so fun and (I’ve) got to thank Coach (Barnes) for every step of the way, guiding us. We have a great team, they work hard and they wanted it for us.”

The Patriots lose four seniors to graduation — including Ibegbu and Johnna Tyndall — but Barnes said the team could still make some noise next year.

“It’s a resounding echo when we lost (All-state players) Hannah Scott (Avery) and Scarlet Combs (in 2017), and everybody’s wondering what’s going to happen to Parrott,” Barnes said. “We came back with the first ever state championship (in school history), so hopefully there’s bigger and better things to come.”

Jorja Tuten said she has high hopes for 2020.

“We’re hoping for the three-peat next year and I think we can do it,” Tuten said.