First Baptist Christian School is playing its first full varsity volleyball and soccer seasons this fall as the school now has juniors as its highest grade level.

Last Thursday and Friday, the Crusaders split volleyball matches, first in a four-game loss to BEACH Breakers; then a five-game victory against Tabernacle Baptist.

Against BEACH, which is a team of home-schooled students in the Hampton Roads area, the Crusaders lost 25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 25-15. For the Crusaders, Abby Cockrell served 17 points with nine aces; she also had three blocks. Becca Ballance led FBCS with six kills.

On Friday at Tabernacle Baptist in Virginia Beach, First Baptist won the last two games of the match, 18-25, 25-20, 12-25, 25-23, 15-6. Tabernacle Baptist led 11-5 in game four before the Crusaders rallied.

Megan Farmer, who finished with 17 points served and six aces, served six straight points to bring FBCS back from the 11-5 deficit. In the final game, Cockrell served to build a 6-1 Crusader lead.

Ballance had eight kills and four blocks. Danielle Edwards had five assists and Abby Edwards added four assists. Cockrell finished with 17 points served, six kills and five blocks.

First Baptist Christian, much like its boys and girls basketball teams last winter, played a partial varsity schedule last season when the Crusaders played schools without a JV team. Now with three juniors on the volleyball team, the Crusaders have a full varsity team with 15 matches lined up and a JV team.