Making a statement can be overstated when it comes to athletics, but what’s a better way to describe what Cornerstone Christian did in capturing the Volleypalooza championship over the weekend in Texas? The 68-team field was loaded!

It featured eight of the current Top 10 teams in the most recent 6A Coaches Association Poll, plus five of the Top 7 from the current 5A poll. Of course, neither poll contains Cornerstone Christian or Prestonwood Christian, who the Warriors swept, 25-21, 25-15, in the title showdown between arguably the two best teams in the state.

“It was an incredible field,” Cornerstone coach Mike Carter said. “It was a bunch of grown women playing and I was impressed by so many teams and the level of play. Honestly, I was in awe and enjoyed being a fan and watching these teams playing other matches. My team really rose to the challenge. Cy Ranch had us down 23-20 in the third set and we rallied to finish that match. The match against Prestonwood, that was the best we played all year.”

It was a true showdown, as the top two seeds worked their way into position to go home with the tournament trophy. Cornerstone – whose only setback this season came against The Woodlands, a team the Warriors have also defeated – handed Prestonwood its first loss. Prestonwood reached the final after downing Highland Park for the second time this season by sweeping their semifinal encounter. The way the teams were playing, the final was set up to produce a classic. However, Cornerstone’s play suffocated Prestonwood at times and the expected slugfest never materialized.

“We got on a good roll,” Carter said. “Our block set up well. I think it caused them to try and avoid our big kids and in doing so it led to some hitting errors or easier balls for us to play. When we are in system, we have three hitters in each rotation who are capable of putting it away. It makes us tough to defend.”

None of that would have taken place had Cornerstone not produced an epic rally over Cy Ranch in the quarterfinals in what proved to be the match of the tournament. The Mustangs grabbed the opening set, the first Cornerstone had lost since dropping its contest to The Woodlands two weeks prior. After stepping up in the second set, Cornerstone found itself trailing for much of the third – which was played to 25. In fact, Cy Ranch built up a 19-14 advantage before looking like it was ready to close the Warriors out leading 23-19. Hannah Spencer’s stuff was part of a 5-0 run and cut the deficit to 23-22. Megan Fitch followed with back-to-back kills to make it 24-23. Bianna Muoneke stalled Cornerstone’s run with a monster bash to tie it at 24 all. Fitch kept her hot hand going with another winner before the match ended on a net violation against Cy Ranch.

“When we dropped the first one it was let’s see how we respond,” Carter said. “I thought we came out in the second set and played well. The third set we got behind. Having 12 seniors, there’s a lot of leadership there and the young girls play so much volleyball they stayed calm and didn’t get rattled.”

Winning Volleypalooza sets the stage for Cornerstone, which is heading to the Nike TOC Southeast tournament in Tampa Bay this coming weekend. The Warriors are also heading west later in the year to compete at the Nike TOC Southwest event in Phoenix. An independent school, Cornerstone can travel out of the state unlike other schools who can’t compete in any tournament anywhere once district play begins.

Capturing major tournament titles like Volleypalooza and Nike TOC is one way for a program to put itself in the discussion for being named national champions at the end of the year.

“We are excited about (the upcoming tournaments,” Carter said. “Tampa and Phoenix are like our playoffs. We’ll see some of the top teams around the country and outside of Texas.”