We Speak Volleyball

Hebron Christian Rallies From Two Sets Down to Beat Mount Paran 3-2 and Reach the State Final

Published

1 hour ago

November 2, 2026

Hebron Christian players celebrating on the court at LakePoint.

Photo courtesy of Hebron Athletics.

Hebron Christian was two sets from going home. Instead, the Lions are going back to the state championship match. Hebron rallied from the edge of elimination to beat Mount Paran Christian 3-2 on Wednesday at LakePoint Sports Complex in the GHSA Class Private semifinals, in the comeback of the Georgia postseason.

Mount Paran owned the start of the match. The Eagles from Kennesaw won the first set 25-7 and the second set 25-14, and Hebron looked finished. Hebron’s own athletics account told the story plainly afterward: down two sets to none, losing 25-7 and 25-14, the Lions won three straight sets to take down Mount Paran and return to the state championship game.

The turn started with a 25-23 win in the third set. Hebron then took the fourth set 25-22 to force a decider, and the Lions closed the comeback 15-8 in the fifth, completing a rally from a hole that almost never gets climbed out of in a state semifinal.

Hebron head coach Taylor Davis called the turnaround remarkable, telling Prep Sports Nation that Mount Paran demolished her team in the first two sets before the Lions settled in and started to play their game. The win was also a measure of payback, since Mount Paran had beaten Hebron when the teams met earlier this season.

The victory sent Hebron to the Private state final for the second straight year, a Saturday morning rematch with Lovett. The Lions fell in that final and finished 44-6, but Wednesday’s comeback will be the game this group is remembered for.

We Speak Volleyball

Newbury Park Survives Thousand Oaks in Five Sets to Reach the Division 3 Semifinals

Published

2 minutes ago

November 2, 2026

We Speak Media

Newbury Park players celebrate during the Division 3 quarterfinal against Thousand Oaks.

Photo courtesy of Newbury Park Athletics.

A crosstown rivalry got one more postseason chapter on Wednesday night, and it needed all five sets. Host Newbury Park held off Thousand Oaks 3-2 in a CIF Southern Section Division 3 quarterfinal, winning 25-16, 25-20, 21-25, 22-25 and 15-6 to reach the semifinals.

Newbury Park controlled the first two sets behind strong serving that kept the Lancers out of system. Thousand Oaks refused to fold. The Lancers took the third set, then won the fourth on a set point ace from junior Sam Caenepeel to force a fifth.

The Panthers owned the deciding set. Laney Knopp drilled five kills with an ace in the fifth, and setter Keira Overbeck served a pair of clutch aces as Newbury Park pulled away 15-6. Charley Knupp put down the final kill of the night, off an Overbeck back set, to end it.

Knopp finished with a match high 24 kills. Knupp added 17 and sophomore Emmery Reynolds 15, as the Panthers’ three pin hitters combined for 56 kills. Thousand Oaks was led by Halle Bryce with 17 kills and 12 digs and Saylor Halvorsen with 12 kills and 13 digs.

The match was the final one of Thousand Oaks head coach James Park’s career; he had announced before the season that he would retire at the end of it. Newbury Park, coached by Chris Forrest, improved to 33-9 and moved on to play Valley Christian in the Division 3 semifinals in Cerritos on Saturday, October 31.