The Nansemond-Suffolk Academy girls’ volleyball team was no stranger to its opponent in the conference tournament championship on Saturday evening.

The Lady Saints had met Cape Henry Collegiate School three times prior and lost 2-0, 3-2 and 3-0.

Despite a promising start and standout performances from its three 2014 All-TCIS honorees, NSA lost 26-24, 14-25, 21-25, 22-25 on Saturday at Norfolk Christian School.

“This one probably hurt a little more than the rest, because we did win that first game, and then the third and the fourth games — late in the games — we were up by six points in both of them and sort of let it slip away,” Nansemond-Suffolk coach Robyn Ross said.

“To know that it was right there and that we just didn’t quite close it out and that it was for the TCIS made it a little bit more painful for the girls.”

Senior middle blockers Caylin Harris and Lizzy Fowler continued to put up good numbers in the tournament. Harris had 15 kills and three blocks, while Fowler had 10 kills and four blocks.

Senior libero Bridget Murphy had 21 digs, and senior setter Brooks Gillerlain registered 41 assists.

“They did some things really, really well, but our serve-receive is what just fell apart, and then we couldn’t run our offense,” Ross said. “You can’t beat a team like Cape Henry without being able to run your offense.”

Fowler and Gillerlain earned spots on the All-Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools Tournament Team.

They also were selected to the 2014 All-TCIS first team for the first time in their careers.

“Lizzy’s had a great season, and she is leading the team in kills, so just watching her play, she’s a different player than even she was last year,” Ross said. “She’s really stepped up and deserves all of the recognition that she’s gotten, and I’m excited and happy for her.”

Through Saturday’s match, Fowler has played in 78 sets and produced 245 kills, averaging 3.1 kills per set and possessing a .433 kill percentage. She also has 40 blocks and 114 digs.

“I think I’m really lucky to have a really supportive team behind me, and I couldn’t have done any of this without the people that I have on the court with me at that time,” Fowler said.

Explaining her growth since 2013, she said, “I wanted to play in college, and I knew that I needed to step up my level of play, and so I just started going for it this year.”

Gillerlain moved up to first team this year after making the all-conference second team in 2013.

“I didn’t try to think about awards last year, but once it came out, I wished I was on first team, but that’s OK. So, this year, it was my year,” Gillerlain said.

Responsible for 832 assists this year, Gillerlain is second in the state of Virginia across all private and public schools according to MaxPreps.com, a CBSSports.com website. Among Division II schools like NSA in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association, her assist tally ranks No. 1.

“She has improved every year, and she got some awards last year, but she’s even better, in my opinion, this year because of choices,” Ross said. “Her mental game is much better, which makes her more of a threat.”

Having played 78 sets this season, Gillerlain averages 10.7 assists per set and also has 41 aces and 169 digs.

Harris was selected to the All-TCIS second team, but Ross was appalled she did not make the first team.

“It doesn’t make any sense to me,” she said.

Though Harris has been limited to 56 sets, being sidelined with mono for a stint, she has still racked up 231 kills, averaging 4.1 per set and possessing a .443 kill percentage. She also has 27 blocks and 102 digs.

Nansemond-Suffolk (18-9) hosted Highland School in the VISAA Division II quarterfinals on Tuesday night.