Concord Christian School has fielded a volleyball team for only two years.

Because the team is so young, there were no real expectations heading into the season, and certainly no idea they would appear in the state tournament.

Unlikely as it may be, the team boarded a bus Tuesday leaving for Murfreesboro. They faced Trinity Christian at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the first round of the TSSAA Class A state tournament.

"It's been surreal for us," coach Ashley Hughey said. "It's even been surreal for our school."

During the team's sub-state game against North Greene, they found themselves down 21-15 in the fourth game of the match.

Four points away from defeat, Concord rallied back, winning 15-10 in a decisive game five.

"I was pretty much speechless," senior Ashton Barbour said. "Since I'm one of the captains, I was kind of getting onto my team, but they pulled through and I was pretty much speechless when we won."

Barbour and Hughey, along with several others on the team, reside in Lenoir City.

Brooke Steowell, one of local residents, said she never expected to make it this far.

"I knew we were really good, but I didn't expect to go to state because this is a really big accomplishment," she said.

Steowell said she felt as the season went on that the team began to improve and make a step toward being a contender.

Ayla LeCoultre said the team's youth makes the accomplishment of advancing to state one that is even more special.

Another Lenoir City resident, Caroline Waite, is one of three eighth-graders on the team, which Hughey feels causes others to underestimate her group.

"Going to state is just an amazing thought," Waite said.

Hughey said her expectations going into the tournament are not very high, but that her team could accomplish anything.

"I think a lot of what happened is the girls have just played with heart," Hughey said. "We're scrappy."

When Concord's athletic director purchased the team's first set of volleyballs they were red, white and blue. He said he wanted to the girls to get used to playing with the same ball they would play with at state.