When an undefeated, No.1 ranked team gets its first lost and a captain calls it a blessing, you know the team is something special.

That’s how everyone is describing the Lady Raptors girls’ volleyball team.

The 15-member team ended its regular season with a 9-0 conference record. Two of their victories were over perennial volleyball powerhouse and c

“The way we have bonded as a team shows on the court.” - Lydia Wright

ross-town rival Brentwood.

The loss came this past weekend, at a tournament hosted by No. 2 ranked Dobyns Bennett High School in Kingsport, which was one of the few other undefeated teams in the state. Ravenwood also lost to Ooltawah.

But when Ravenwood hosts next week’s District II tournament, expect the team to be ready for action.

“The loss was tough, but it was kind of a blessing,” Lydia Wright, 16, a junior and one of three captains said before Tuesday’s practice. “It gave us a chance to grow, and to learn from our mistakes.”

The team has blossomed under new head coach Tracey Berry, who is no stranger to the high school game and club volleyball circles. She quickly earned the respect of the team and has instilled a sense of pride and expectation.

“She’s awesome,” Wright said, “and really strict.”

Senior Meredith Richardson, who will play volleyball on a full scholarship at N.C. State next year, echoed Wright’s sentiments on Berry.

“I love her. She keeps us accountable and working as hard as we need to be,” she said.

Both players say the team has bonded tighter this season than ever before.

“We have more confidence; even in practice we’re more intense and always making sure we get ready for what’s coming next,” Richardson said.

“The way we have bonded as a team shows on the court,” Wright said. “This year especially we’re a really tight group.”

The team is relatively young. It includes four seniors, five juniors and four sophomores. Even the youngest players “all have significant roles on the team,” Berry said.

They almost have to, given the competition.

“This is such a tough district; it’s the toughest district,” Berry said of 11-AAA district that includes Ravenwood, Independence, Brentwood, Centennial, Hillsboro and Franklin. “Any team in this district could beat most of the teams in the state.”

Though they are going into the district tourney undefeated in regular-season play, Berry said the team still haven’t reached the goal it set at the first of the season – to get out of the district and on to regional, and, hopefully, state post-season play.

Though they are the topped-ranked team and have a first-round bye, “We’re not out of the district yet,” the veteran coach said. The top two tournament finishers move on to the regional tournament.

Berry attributes the team’s success this year to talent, pure and simple.

“They have a lot of talent on this team. They have all worked real hard. They all play club and travel ball. This is a very dedicated group of young ladies,” she said.

And she said she wasn’t disappointed in her team’s showing over the weekend, especially given the five-hours it took to get there. “It’s good to have a loss,” Berry said. “We know we have to work a little bit harder.”