Fatima’s junior varsity volleyball team capped an impressive season Saturday by winning the Hickman JV Tournament in Columbia, defeating five opponents and splitting with another while dropping just one set throughout the competition.

Coach Tracy Quinn’s Lady Comets entered the tournament with a 19-4 regular-season record, but faced a challenging field as the only Class 2 team competing. One Class 3 team and several Class 4 and Class 5 programs rounded out the competition.

Despite a roster consisting of six freshmen and three sophomores, Fatima demonstrated its ability to compete against larger schools, finishing the day with an 11-1 record in sets.

“The girls had been hoping for some challenging matches to finish the season and we were excited for the tournament,” Quinn said.

The Lady Comets opened pool play with a 25-22, 25-19 victory over Capital City before splitting with Class 5 Battle, falling 25-19 in the opening set and responding with a 25-23 victory in the second. Fatima then swept Father Tolton 25-14, 25-14 to complete pool competition.

The split with Battle proved to be the only blemish on an otherwise dominant day, as the Lady Comets swept their three bracket opponents to secure the championship.

Fatima opened bracket play with a 25-14, 25-14 victory over Union before defeating Rock Bridge 25-22, 25-18 in the semifinals.

The championship brought a rematch with Capital City, and the Lady Comets delivered another strong performance, winning 25-16, 25-22 to claim the tournament title.

Quinn praised the team’s determination and composure, particularly as the Lady Comets faced three consecutive matches in bracket competition without an extended break.

“The bracket matches were very exciting, and they played with confidence and poise and were able to defeat any team they were faced with,” Quinn said.

Fatima’s ability to sustain its intensity against larger schools was especially encouraging for Quinn, who credited the players with responding to each challenge without becoming discouraged.

“The energy on the court was phenomenal,” Quinn said.

Beyond the championship, Quinn emphasized the progress her young team made throughout the season, noting that every player contributed to its success.

“I had so much fun with this team this year and saw improvements every time we took the court,” Quinn said. “These girls have a bright future and we are proud to have them as part of the Fatima Volleyball program.”

The tournament championship provided a fitting conclusion to a successful JV season at 28-4-1 and offered a glimpse of the talent developing within Fatima’s volleyball program.