By Shield Staff
NRCA defeated the Charlotte Country Day Buccaneers 3-0 to capture the 2024 NCISAA 4A Volleyball State Championship, the Knights’ ninth title in 10 years.
In the championship match, seniors Tyra Listenbee and Zoe Richardson led the offense with 15 kills each.
Senior Hannah Taylor, sophomore Jenna Stefansky, and freshman Madison Muto also contributed to the Knights’ offense. Playmaker Brook Watkins, a junior, had 35 assists. Sophomore Kyla Artlip led the defense with 13 digs. Senior Taylor Lucas and junior Camille Donofrio also contributed to the Knights’ defense. The win brought NRCA’s season record to 19-4.
The Knights entered the playoffs as the No. 3 seed, defeating the No. 6 seed Cannon School Cougars 3-0 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, NRCA upset the No. 2 seed Wesleyan Trojans 3-1 on the road, clearing the way to the title game against the No. 1 seed, Charlotte Country Day.
Head Coach Chris Murray highlighted the ups and downs of the 2024 season that brought the championship trophy home to Raleigh.
“This season has been a testament to God’s faithfulness, and we’re grateful for every step of the journey,” she said. “Yet, to reach that goal, we first had to overcome a spirit of complacency and refocus on our team mission of ‘GOD, then TEAM, then ME.’ Guided by our team verse, 1 Corinthians 12:14—‘For the body is not one part, but many’—we embraced unity and a commitment to excellence. Strong leadership and a shared love for one another pushed us to grow and ultimately brought us together as champions. It’s a blessing to celebrate this success as one united team.”
Senior Hannah Taylor and the other players from the 2023 roster felt they had unfinished business from last year when they ended their season as NCISAA 4A Volleyball Runners-Up to Cannon School.
“From the start of the season, I and the other returners from last season knew that we had to take the championship back,” she said. The Knights prepared for states by working hard in team scrimmages, watching film on their opponents, and worshiping together before practice.
Taylor credited the coaches with ensuring the team had the laser-like focus they needed to win. She said, “Leading up to the finals, I felt so confident about the game. Our coaches had been pushing us the last couple [of] weeks, and that played a major role in our preparation. We constantly motivated ourselves and kept our eyes on our goal.”
Senior Ella Bennett, reflecting on the final volleyball game of the 2024 season, said, “I've won two state championships before, but, you know, Saturday was—I don't even know how to explain it. The energy—just with the Castle Crazies and everything... it was surreal, because we've worked so hard this season.”
Team Voices
Taylor Lucas (2025) on overcoming challenges in the championship match:
“I think the most challenging moment was when we all started to get in our heads, and you could see it. We kind of went down a little bit, but then our coach called a time out, brought us in, started telling us what's business, and then we got everything together.”
Tyra Listenbee (2025) on the emotions surrounding the championship win:
“I felt overwhelmed with happiness. I was really proud of our team from where we came, and I was overjoyed with emotion.”
Zoe Richardson (2025) on the season and the championship:
“There were moments in the season when we were struggling, but with struggle comes growth, and we really grew through that struggle. You can choose to shy away from that or embrace that, and I think we embraced the struggle and learned how to love each other through the struggle. And that’s what separated our team from any of the other teams we played against—we loved each other, and we loved God... This would not have been possible if it weren’t for God, and He’s truly the reason and the central focus of our team. Everything we do is for His glory. And so all praise and honor be to Him for the winning and knowing it’s the abilities He’s given each one of us to go out there and use.”
Hailey Lynn (2025) on the championship match:
“This year we were led by a group of strong Christian girls. Before the game we prayed, had devotion, and worshiped God, just thanking Him for the ability He gave us to even make it that far. We knew that the game wouldn’t be easy, but we had God on our side. Even though we won in three sets, the fight we had to finish was there. The feelings after were an emotional roller coaster. We seniors wanted to bring back the winning streak this year, and the fact that we did made us so proud. We all played a very important role during this whole season, and I really am so proud of everyone!”
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