A Victorious “Welcome Home”

By Jonathan Crossman

ANKENY, Iowa – The Faith Eagles volleyball team started their season out with a night of triumph, both bagging their first win and finally experiencing the brand-new gym floor with a home court advantage. This win came at the head of the Spikefest Tournament, a tournament that will continue through part of the weekend and kickoff more chances for the Eagles to practice on the home court before their first away game. This win, combined with the powerful pre-game address from President Tillotson, was a perfect reminder for students that even amidst times of uncertainty and confusion in the world, unity in Christ is what can give us hope to persevere.

The Eagles win was fueled by an amazing outcry of support from fans, with many students turning up to cheer them on in as much maroon gear and face paint as humanly possible. Friday night's win marked a drastic turnaround from last years kickoff game, where the Eagles fell in 2019 to Grace Christian University 0-3 (15-25, 11-25, 15-25), this year starting off with a perfect 3-0 match (25-21, 25-13, 25-18) against Trinity Bible College. Returning players are confidently optimistic about the outcome of this year's season, hoping that the addition of six new freshmen and some fresh tactics from coach Lanny Nihart will send the message of improvement to other teams in the league.

Some outstanding performances from the game included Morgan Stephens, who led the team with 15 digs, working hard to ensure the ball stayed in the air on the Eagles side of the court, freshman Donnecia King, who had an impressive spike to the back corner, rallying her teammates on and putting the crowd into a triumphant frenzy, and Kenna Laib, who cleaned up with defense, confusing the Trinity offense with her expertly placed sets and ending the game with 10 assists.

The Eagles (1-0) return to the court on Saturday with a match against Oak Hills Christian College at 11:45 a.m.