The Lady Saints volleyball team advanced to the state semifinals with a home win Tuesday evening over Highland School.

The Nansemond-Suffolk Academy girls’ volleyball team is one game away from a state championship berth. They took care of business Tuesday in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II state quarterfinals, defeating Highland School 3-0.

Even though the Lady Saints didn’t feel they played their best, it was still impressive to win how they did.

“The girls didn’t have their best match,” Coach Robyn Ross said. “But what I was proud of was the fact that even though we were struggling offensively, we found a way to fight through it and found a way to win.”

Addy Greene had 19 kills, 11 digs and three aces. Rylee Bono had 17 digs and two aces. NSA will play Fredericksburg Christian School Friday in Fairfax. The Lady Saints know they will be undersized against FCS, as they are with most teams they play. It is going to be important for them to step up their offensive game Friday.

“We will need all of our hitters making big contributions, so their blockers can’t camp on certain people,” Ross said. “We know that team outsizes us by quite a bit, so we will have to serve tough to get them out of their system.”

Last year, NSA’s season ended at the state semifinal. Ross lost four of the players that were on that team, so this year will be a new experience for three girls. The Lady Saints pride themselves on preparing for big moments and pressure. It is how they practice every day. NSA has great leadership this season that will steady some of the youth out on the floor.

NSA and FCS will meet at 6 p.m. Friday at King Abdullah Academy.