By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

Make room for a new type of banner on the Pleasant Hope High School gym wall.

For the first time in school history, the Pirates are district volleyball champions.

Pleasant Hope swept New Covenant Academy 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-19) on Monday night in the Class 2 District 10 Tournament championship game at Sparta High School.

“It feels amazing. I can only praise God for what he’s done in my athletics career,” said Pleasant Hope senior and outside hitter Jianna Halbrook, who had an unofficial match-high 20 kills. “I’m so thankful.”

It’s a historic achievement for Pleasant Hope, which has made four final fours and won a state championship in softball since 2009.

The Pirates have made significant strides in volleyball lately, recording three straight 20-wins and now a district championship.

“We’re a big softball school, so it’s really nice to have that first title on the wall for volleyball,” said Pleasant Hope coach Britany Cheek. “Our players worked day in and day out to get this far. We have great leaders. The girls are just a great group. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE MATCH

A big part of Pleasant Hope’s volleyball turnaround: The softball team switched to a spring championship season three years ago.

Pleasant Hope’s multi-sport athletes – of which there are many – no longer have to choose softball or volleyball.

“It’s helped both sports tremendously,” Young said. “We’re able to share athletes now, instead of them having to pick which sport to play. Our main players are (the softball team’s) main players as well. It’s great for the girls to be able to play both.”

Pleasant Hope will play at Mountain View-Birch Tree/Liberty in a Class 2 sectional this Thursday night. Liberty, a No. 3 seed, knocked off No. 2 seed Houston and top seed Licking to win its district.

Against NCA, Pleasant Hope rallied from deficits in both the second and third sets.

The Pirates (24-7 overall) closed the second set on a 7-1 run after trailing 20-18.

NCA (13-14-2 overall) led 16-10 in the third set, but Pleasant Hope rallied to tie the match at 18-all and took the lead for good on the next point.

Comebacks are nothing new for the Pirates this season.

“That seems to be us,” Young said of her team. “We like to get up and then put on the brakes sometimes, but they do a good job of fighting adversity. They pick each other up really well. When they decide to play, they just play.

Cheek, who is in her first season at Pleasant Hope, has now won district titles at three schools (Billings, Diamond).

“Having a new coach has been amazing. We love her and we love our teammates. We’re just blessed to be together on the court,” Halbrook said.

Monday’s outcome avenged Pleasant Hope’s 3-1 loss to NCA in the regular season.

“Our energy level was the difference tonight,” Young said of the rematch. “The girls really wanted (to win) tonight’s game. That’s all they talked all night, all year. They knew what they had to do to (beat) New Covenant, who to shut down. Our go-to girls got the job done.”