Photo

Click on photo to enlarge

Kenny Fey

Members of the Daniel High School volleyball team celebrate with coach Joy Stewart, center, after the Lions defeated Pickens to clinch their first Western 3A region title in a decade last month in Central. The Lions will play for the Upper State championship tonight as they host Riverside at 6 p.m.

CENTRAL — When the Daniel High School volleyball team came together as a group for the first time during the summer, a lofty goal was laid out on the table from the outset — win a State championship.

With that, there was obviously a special feeling around the Lions from very beginning, which was only confirmed by the time they won the Dorman Tournament of Champions in September.

Defeating some of the top teams from Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee on the way to the tournament championship, it was obvious to Daniel head coach Joy Stewart at that point she had a particularly dangerous team on her hands.

And it’s not like she hasn’t led some quality teams during her tenure with the Lions.

“In years past, I’ve been like, ‘Okay, we can do this,’’ Stewart said. “But this year, it’s completely different because these girls have played such exceptional teams and have come to the plate and played.”

After going undefeated in region play to capture their first Western 3A championship in a decade, the No. 1 Lions (31-3) now find themselves one final step away from having a shot at their preseason goal, as they’ll host No. 4 Riverside for the Upper State championship tonight at 6 p.m.

A win would catapult the Lions to an appearance in the State championship on Saturday at White Knoll High School, which would mark their first trip to the title game since 2003, while they haven’t claimed a State championship since the 1999 season.

And with the success they’ve enjoyed this season, it’s with good reason the Lions feel a return to the throne is in the works.

“It gives me goose bumps to think about,” Stewart said. “To watch them play when they play together, the confidence that they have and the unity as a team, they’re able to come together because that’s what we are.”

Though the Lions know they’re walking a fine line between confidence and cockiness, they know keeping that confidence up will be key tonight if they hope to make the trip to Lexington come Saturday.

“We’re just trying to carry that through the playoffs because we know we have the talent to win,” senior Sherece Smith said. “It’s just about putting forth the effort in the games.”

And even with a pair of monumental wins over Pickens this year highlighting what has already been a memorable season in Central, it all goes back to the tournament at Dorman, which is when the Lions found the confidence they needed to set the stage for a shot at the State title.

“We’ve always believed in ourselves all year long, and we know we can do it,” senior Hayley Hoover said. “I think the Tournament of Champions kind of helped us prove to everyone else that we can too.”

In their final practice before the Upper State title match on Tuesday, Stewart said it wasn’t much more than a formality, as the Lions didn’t have much to run over on the court, because at this point, it’s merely a matter of desire and execution.

There’s no doubt in Stewart’s mind they’ll have plenty of both when they take the floor tonight, and just like her Lions, she has plenty of confidence that her squad will do what it has to do tonight to advance to Lexington.

“They’re going to give the best fight of their life, and I know these girls will be able to pull together and be able to win and go on to State,” Stewart said. “They’re focused, they’re ready to play and they want to win State. Bottom line.”