The Ross County Christian Academy (RCCA) claimed their very first High School Boys’ Volleyball Championship over the weekend.
The Eagles claimed the win over CHESS Christian in a back-and-forth match on Saturday during the RCCA’s inaugural High School Boys’ Volleyball Championship. The Eagles had lost to CHESS earlier this season, but Saturday’s victory handed CHESS their only losses of 2022/2023.
Saturday’s tournament featured four regional boys’ volleyball teams in the Ross County Christian Academy, Dominion Christian, CHESS Christian, and the Hillsboro Christian Academy.
There were a total of six games played at Saturday’s tournament with the Championship-winning Eagles and the Runner-Up Champion CHESS team earning the most victories.
Game 1: Ross Christian Academy defeated Dominion Christian 2-0
Game 2: CHESS Christian defeated Hillsboro Christian 2-1
Game 3: Hillsboro Christian defeated Dominion Christian 2-0
Game 4: Ross Christian defeated CHESS Christian 2-0
Game 5: CHESS Christian defeated Hillsboro Christian 2-0
Championship: Ross Christian defeated CHESS Christian 2-1
This was the Ross County Christian Academy Eagles’ first season participating in boys’ volleyball. RCCA Boys' Volleyball Coach Nathan Vitatoe said the program was the brainchild of RCCA Athletic Director Roy Kelley and School Leader Dr. Valerie Jones. The team’s Captain, Gabe Bevin, worked to recruit other students to the roster.
“Our Captain, Gabe Bevin, really helped put the whole team together,” said Vitatoe. “He had wanted to have an RCCA boys’ volleyball team last year, so he’d been talking to a lot of classmates to try and encourage them to come out for volleyball this spring. He did a great job."
Coach Vitatoe also mentioned team's defensive specialist as a stand-out player during the Eagles' 22/23 season.
"Our Libero, Carson Ramey, is a wall in the back," said Vitatoe. "He ends up on the floor from time-to-time diving for balls. He’s really helped us defensively to stay on point.”
The Ross County Christian Academy’s volleyball team will see many of its players return next season. The team’s only senior, Trace Dixon, graduates this spring.
“Senior Trace Dixon is the team’s lone senior,” said Vitatoe. “He did a great job serving on Saturday. He’s mainly a backside hitter and plays a lot in the front row. I think he’s 6’4” so he’s a good blocker for us. I think he had a great season. We really enjoyed celebrating him on Senior Night.”
Coach Vitatoe said the RCCA Boys’ Volleyball Tournament will become an annual event.
“We want to have this tournament each year,” said Vitatoe. “We’re focusing on inviting some of the other Christian schools that have boys’ volleyball to continue to grow it, not only in this area, but also among the Christian Conference. We’re excited for next year. We still have a very young team and I’m excited to see what the guys can do next year.”
Ross County Christian Academy is currently working to develop a local conference for boys’ volleyball and are in talks with a few other area Christian schools. RCCA Athletic Director Roy Kelley stated last week that a conference will hopefully be ready to go officially, the year after next.