Regent Prep reflects on 3A championship

Regent Prep's name wasn't well known. It wasn't completely anonymous, either.

That was during Regent Prep's time toiling as a member of the Oklahoma Christian Schools Athletic Association. Coach Mike Christie wanted his club to play against quality competition, so he scheduled games against any Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association schools he could find.

Then the Rams made the leap to the OSSAA this year. Still, though, Regent Prep fought the battle of anonymity. 

"I feel like quite a few of our opponents this year underestimated our ability because we were a small school and they had not heard of us," Christie said. "Even in our losses, I think we gained respect from our opponent."

Well, starting in the 2015 season, Regent Prep will no longer be overlooked. That tends to happen when you when the state championship.

The Rams capped off a nearly perfect run through the state tournament, beating Union City 3-0 (25-11, 25-20, 25-20) for the Class 3A state championship. Regent Prep lost only one out of 10 sets in the two-day stint.

It's a memory Christie and his club will cherish forever.

"It was a special moment because it is not every day that you get a chance to win a state championship," Christie said. "I told the girls that they needed to embrace the moment because there is no promise that we will ever be in that position again."

Regent Prep, which finished with a 29-7 mark, was in that position because of quintet of seniors. The fivesome of Alison Ramsey, Paige Panter, Aly Smith, Sarah Minnich and Madeline Drake fortified Regent Prep's position as 3A's top volleyball unit.

"Our five seniors have set the bar high," Christie said. "They have won five state championships."

The dynasty at the OCSAA level ended, only to be continued at the OSSAA level. That's certainly not a feat accomplished routinely.

"The stage is bigger in the OSSAA," Christie said, "so I think it made it more special."

Now it's up to the heirs of the program to ensure that success is an annual tradition.

"I think the girls coming up in our program are hungry to experience the same kind of success," Christian said. "The young players know that they are going to have to work hard to keep our program playing at a high level."

High level or not, Regent Prep is no longer just a name on a jersey. It's a name etched into state record books.