By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Editor

The 2014 AISA JV volleyball state championship was just business as usual for the Kingwood Christian Lions, who captured the title for the second year in a row.

The Lions never dropped a match, sweeping their way through the tournament en route to their second-straight title.

“I just knew they had it,” head coach Tony Boyd said.

The run to the title is an impressive one. The Lions went undefeated on the season — marking the second consecutive year the team has done that as well.

“We’re 49-0,” Boyd said. “They’re used to winning. Right before the game, I said ‘Let’s get the first (set). You don’t want to play not to lose.”

The squad hosted the tournament — also for the second-straight year — and took on all comers in a field of eight that saw the Lions, Eastwood, Hooper, Autauga Academy, Morgan, Macon-East and Coosa Valley square off for the state title.

In the opener, Kingwood took on Eastwood, dispatching the squad from Montgomery 25-18 and 25-13. In the second round, it was the Autauga Academy Generals that fell at the hands of Kingwood, 25-11 and 25-7. In the third round of competition, the Lions took on the Morgan Senators. The Senators proved no match for Kingwood, falling 25-7 and 25-22.

From there, the Lions sat and waited for the bracket to sort out who the Lions’ would face in the championship round. When the elimination rounds were over, Morgan stood between Kingwood and a second title.

The Senators didn’t stand in the way long, as Kingwood dominated the court, taking the first round 25-2 and the second, 26-24. Coosa Valley Academy came in third.

Boyd said his faith in his team never came into question during the season.

“I think this year’s team, they had so much confidence,” he said. “They exuded self-control. If they were behind, they never panicked.”

Kirsten Boyd had 58 assists, eight kills and 11 aces in tournament play, while Natalie Watts had 48 kills, two blocks, and three aces. A.C. Brooks had 31 kills and 13 aces. Both Boyd and Watts were named tournament MVPs.

Boyd also said he and the team stuck to a philosophy all season.

“Expect to win,” he said. “But always compete. You do that, you’ll come to play.”