As it did all season, Moody Bible Institute capped the 2024 women's volleyball schedule by overcoming adversity and shining the light of Christ one more time with a gutsy five-set comeback victory in the first round of the National Christian College Athletic Association Midwest Region tournament on Friday in Watertown, Wisconsin. The Archers' season concluded in their next match, a three-set loss to unbeaten top-seeded Emmaus Bible College in the region semifinals.
Playing under the season theme of "Time to Shine" based on Matthew 5:16, Moody finished with a final record of 9 wins and 11 losses in a season they ended up dedicating to beloved co-captain and middle hitter Joy Marquardt after she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on September 26.
Playing shorthanded for the last six weeks of the season, the Archers dug deep, hung together, and rallied for a dramatic 25-15, 15-25, 22-25, 25-23, 15-11 victory over Maranatha Baptist University on the Sabercats' home floor in the first round of the tournament.
Playing in front of a loud and raucous MBU crowd, Moody refused to quit after falling behind two sets to one in a hostile environment. Competing without Marquardt as well as missing their starting libero, the Archers leaned into each other as a unit and turned in arguably their best and most courageous performance of the season.
Trailing 20-18 in the fourth set against Maranatha, Moody tied the set at 21-21 on an ace from freshman outside hitter Grace Vahey, then took a 23-22 lead before Maranatha drew even at 23-23. The Archers then grabbed a 24-23 lead with a kill by freshman middle hitter Olivia Reid and then clinched the fourth set on a hitting error by the host Sabercats.
The fifth set was also a back-and-forth affair until Moody ran off four straight points for a 10-6 lead. Maranatha clawed within one point on three different occasions, including 12-11. But the Archers never relented, delivering six kills in the decisive set to claim a thrilling win in front of a large contingent of the Archer players' family members who traveled to Watertown for the tournament to cheer on the team.
Moody's defense paved the way for the victory. The Archers delivered a season-high 141 digs in a match that saw numerous long rallies as both teams defended extremely well in the back row and in their blocking schemes. Junior outside hitter Kiarra Henkel led Moody with 33 digs with tremendous help from junior setter Hayley Williams (23 digs), Vahey (22), freshman defensive specialist Kianna Johnson (20), and Reid and sophomore middle hitter Abby Clinton (19 each).
Offensively, Williams dished out 30 assists, and Reid and Henkel had 12 kills apiece.
"The team played with incredible heart, particularly in the last two sets," head coach Jeff Smith said. "Maranatha's crowd can be very intimidating to play against with their constant cheering, chants, and efforts to get into players' heads, but as a team we stepped up, came together, and played with fantastic spirit, determination, and toughness. It was the proudest moment of the season for me personally watching the girls overcome adversity and shine the light of Christ so brightly today. They went all out for Him first and for Joy and the team second. Joy would have been so proud of our squad's performance."
The Archers had little time to rest for their semifinal match later that day against Emmaus but came out of the gate playing some of their best volleyball of the season, tying the first set at 17 on a kill from Clinton. Emmaus turned up its offensive attack to grab the first set win 25-19, then took sets two and three 25-11, 25-15 to advance to the finals.
Go Archers!