Every eye was fixed on the court as the Warrenton boys volleyball team stood one point away from history in the fourth set of the Class 1, District 10 quarterfinals on May 9. 

Leading 24-23, Matthew Faubion knew exactly who to turn to. 

“Be ready for a back set,” Faubion, a setter, told teammate Austin White. 

“I thought he would be the best option in that play because they might be expecting me to go outside again like I had been, so I decided a back set would be the best,” Faubion said. 

White’s poised exterior was reflective of his intense focus within. 

“I was in the mode and I was ready to kill the ball,” White said. “When the ball was in the air, I thought I’d go up and make the play I’d been making all night.” 

As the Wolves served the ball over the net, Brayden Brown was the first to answer and passed it to Faubion. From there, Faubion delivered a back set to White. 

On the right side of the court, White soared, striking the ball up and over the net smack down in the middle. When the ball hit the ground, the crowd erupted. 

“It was the best feeling ever,” White said. “I envisioned it before the play happened so I was really excited to get that point.” 

“It was really fulfilling to win,” Faubion added. 

The win was more than a postseason triumph. For the Warriors, it was a night of firsts — their first home victory and their first district win. 

The matchup also carried weight as Warrenton had dropped three sets to the Wolves in the program’s inaugural game. 

“We were talking about how ironic this game is and what a story it would be if we came in here and won our first district match after we lost to Timberland our first game,” Coach Jake Brown said. “We came out and responded, it was just awesome. I don’t know if I’ll even be able to sleep tonight.” 

The Warriors and the Wolves kept the game close the entire night. Warrenton took the first two sets (25-23, 25-22). Timberland took the third (25-22) and Warrenton sealed the deal in the fourth (25-23). 

Whether it was making sure to watch film, chewing neurogum or starting the game off with White’s signature flip, the Warriors each had their own innuendos to keep them motivated in the tight-knit match. 

“I just focused on the things that I could control,” Faubion said. “I knew that I would have to step up a little bit and make sure my sets were on.” 

Some players admitted they felt some postseason nerves before the game. 

“We were dreading this game all week to be honest but we were glad we had Timberland since they were our first game. Seeing that we had them in the first round really put that fire in us,” White said. 

“Last time we played this team, they whooped us but we’ve come a long way since the beginning of the season. It felt nice (to win). This is my first time ever playing volleyball,” Brayden Brown added. 

Coach Brown had different feelings. 

“I always had faith in our guys and I knew that we could learn how to play volleyball,” he said. “I had two of the coaches tonight say you have more athletes on your team than any other team that’s here and I believe that.” 

For a team that started the season with just one player having competitive volleyball experience, the journey was transformative.

Though Warrenton fell to St. Francis Borgia in the semifinals (3-0), they closed their inaugural season with a 5-17 record — and a lasting statement.

“I’ve always been really confident in our group of guys,” Brown said. “It’s our first win at home and winning this game here was huge.”