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NEW CENTURY, Kan. — The first day at the National Christian Homeschool Volleyball Championship was a resounding success for the FEAST Patriots as all three teams escaped the day unblemished. Not a single set was dropped by the 18U, 16U, and 14U teams, and all three advanced in stride to Friday’s Gold Bracket play in their respective classes.

The Patriots’ 14U team (2-0) was the first to lock up its slot. It won an 8 a.m. match over the Lighthouse Christian Chargers B Team of Springfield, Mo., 25-9, 25-12, before defeating the MHEA Eagles of Memphis, 25-15, 25-13.

By winning the pool, the 14U claims the No. 2 seed in the Class 7A bracket and a quarterfinal bye. The Lighthouse Christian A Team and STL Intensity will play at 8 a.m. on Friday for the right to face the Patriots at 12 noon in the semifinal, with the winner advancing to a 2 p.m. Gold Ball match.

While the 14U was making its run, the 18U team was playing simultaneously two courts away. The Patriots’ Varsity (39-4) stopped CHIEF of Manhattan, Kan., in its 8 a.m. match, 25-18, 25-10, before rolling over Spirit Christian Academy of Tustin, Calif., 25-4, 25-12. Playing in a four-team pool, the Patriots had one extra match at 1 p.m., a 25-18, 25-14 victory over the Omaha Lightning.

The Patriots are the No. 3 seed overall and the top team in the Class 6A bracket. They earned a quarterfinal bye and will face Team Legacy, of Caldwell, Texas, in the semis at 10 a.m. The winner will play a best-of-five match for the Gold Ball at 5 p.m.

FEAST’s 16U team had to sit on the shelf until 2 p.m., when its pool with the Illinois Cru Maroon Blazers, of Big Rock, Ill., and the SWLA Knights of Lake Charles, La., began. The Patriots (19-13-1) fell into an early hole against the Blazers, but dug themselves out after a seven-serve run by Ellis Anne Card.

In the nightcap, the Patriots cruised to a first set win over the Knights, 25-11, but had to struggle in the second set. Eventually they overcame the deficit to pull out a 25-22 win and keep the organization unbeaten on the day.

The 16U is seeded fourth overall and retains the top billing in the Class 5A bracket. Like their mates, these Patriots earned a quarterfinal bye and will face either the OKC Storm or the KC East Lions in the semis at 1 p.m. The winner earns a ticket to the Gold Ball match at 3 p.m.

Never before have the Patriots come to nationals and completed a perfect day. They went 14-0 in sets played and downed opponents from seven different states: Missouri, Kansas, California, Tennessee, Nebraska, Illinois, and Louisiana.