“After the second set, our first word was ‘this game is not over, we can reverse sweep them; let's take this game to five,’ and we have always been really good at five sets,” Kendrick said. “Our main focus was to get every point that we could and just clean our side up.”​
     By the third set, the energy changed and the team communication sharpened, keeping the Rampants in the game with a win of 25-21.
     “The third set was definitely when we all locked in; we all started cheering, bench and on the court, and that's when we had a whole [change],” senior Breanna Joyner said. “Everything got cleaner, [and] playing looked ten times different.” 

     “[Watagua’s] outside hitter was incredible, and I think anyone could see that,” senior Anne Price Duke said. “Caroline really stepped up and led the team in the back row; her defense was incredible.”

     From a two-set deficit, the Rampants made a comeback, winning the third, fourth and fifth sets. Playing against Watagua’s strong attack, the girls' defense shone through, especially for junior Caroline Bayes.
     Comparing both opponents, Watuaga and West Henderson were very similar and strong, with outside hitters committed to Division I institutions. But this year, the girls won the championship, not because of a change in opponents, but because they had a stronger will, new components and their refusal to repeat the feeling of a loss at the State Championship.  

     “Comparing stats on Max Preps, they had better stats: more kills, more digs, more aces, all that stuff that we did,” Kendrick said. “This year, our goal was stronger, and we were not playing separately;
 we were playing together, and especially those last three sets, it felt cohesive.”Throughout this season, head coach Clay Medlin and assistant coaches Ashton Barbee and Jackson Blizzard were supportive of the team, guiding each player to become their best selves. 
     “All of our coaches were very motivating, and Clay specifically would help reassure us after tough losses, or even really good wins, and just keep our heads focused and locked in on what our goal was,” Kendrick said. “Ashton was motivating, kept pushing us to get better and do better.”

     Walking out of Reynolds Coliseum, the Rose varsity volleyball team made history, carrying a win against the Watauga Pioneers at the State Championship game. Joyner served the final game point, ending with an ace. 

     “It's such a rewarding feeling, knowing how hard we worked throughout the season to be here again after losing last year,” Bayes said. “Knowing that [feeling], we had to work ten times harder this season to get back here and winning was truly the most rewarding feeling.”