CHRISTIAN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM is all smiles after reaching the WIAA state tournament for the first time. – Photo by Chris Hendrikse

For the first time in school history, Sheboygan Christian is going to the WIAA State Volleyball Tournament. Heck, the Eagles hadn’t even reached the sectional level since 2008.

“When we won, everybody was so excited and we’re like, ‘we’re going to state!’” junior Lydia Neeb said. “Like all of our hard work was paying off and it’s just a really cool opportunity. Everybody works so hard, and we play for each other … I’m so excited. I just think it’s such a cool opportunity that we get to have.”

Christian qualified as a result of a 3-1 victory over Barneveld in a Division 5 sectional final at Monticello on Saturday night.

“I’m just so excited,” fourth-year coach Melissa Neeb said. “And, you know, this didn’t start with one year. This started in fifth grade with them. And even before we played last night, I said, ‘this is volleyball. You’ve played volleyball since fifth grade. … A lot of the things you’re doing are the same things you did in fifth grade, just at a much higher level.’ 

“It’s so fun when we have put out opportunities for these girls, and they’ve gone after it, and they’ve loved the game. And it’s so fun to just see the joy on their faces when they play. I think that’s what has fueled them to be their best, and that they just have fun playing.

“As a coach, one of my favorite things that I hear people say is that they’re just such a fun team to watch. I’ve heard that since they were in middle school and I think maybe that’s selfish of me to say, but that’s like one of the most rewarding things.”

Christian received a No. 4 seed this morning and will play top-seeded Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran in a state semifinal game at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Resch Center in Green Bay.

EAGLES VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS Sawyer Gesch (19) and Sofia Rodriguez (1) celebrate a point with teammates during their match against Barneveld. – Photo by Chris Hendrikse

Christian kept Barneveld from reaching its first state tourney by winning, 25-23, 13-25, 26-24, 25-12.

The Eagles struggled in the second game, but after the match, sophomore Samantha Veldkamp said the squad remained determined.

“We’ve been talking about state for so long,” she said. “And so we kind of knew, it’s one set. We’re like, ‘guys, it’s 0-0. Let’s go back and play our game; kind of take a long breath. Let’s restart.’”

Barneveld, however, held a two-point lead late in the third game before Christian rallied.

“We were pumped,” Veldkamp said. “When we came back – we were down like 23-21 and then 24-22, 24 – and won that set, we just had all the momentum. And we were talking, we’re like, ‘we’re one set away from state. Guys, we can do this.’

“I had so much confidence in my team. They’re such good players. And we kind of knew we were going to finish this. We’re just going to go and have fun because this is the game we love, and we love each other. So we just went out confidently and went out knowing we can do it.”