The OHSAA Division II volleyball state championship was one filled with history as the eight-time champion Ursuline Lions took the court against the three-time champion Gilmour Academy Lancers.
The history and passion only added to the environment as the teams battled over four sets, but it was the Lancers who prevailed 25-20, 25-22, 28-30, 25-22.
"We played well at times, and then we let runs happen that we had to try and eliminate and I think that's what cost us on the back end of some of those sets," Ursuline head coach Ali Butcher said.
'We always win in the game of heart'
The Lions came out on fire in each of the first two sets, taking identical 6-4 leads in both stanzas.
The Lancers fought back behind their 11 seniors who were making a fourth straight state tournament appearance. Aubrey Anders, Kayla Channell, Marlie Davis and Kyla Williams, who combined for 60 kills, led them to a first set victory. In the second set, it was the service game of Davis, Mi-Na Diggs and D'Aira Whitner that led them on a 12-3 run to gain a 20-12 advantage.
The Lions came back to tie the set at 22-22, but couldn't even the match.
"I think we did a great job in serve-receive for the most part. They did a great job of slowing things down for us. But again, I think it comes down to eliminating a few errors here and there on our side. We had to be a little more disciplined, both at the net and on defense on the back side, but I'm proud of the way we fought at the end of the day," Butcher said.
The third set provided the highest drama of the day. Neither team led by more than two points until the Lancers took a 21-18 advantage. With their backs against the wall, the Lions turned to senior Katie Gielas, who tallied 11 of her team-high 21 kills in the set. Nine of those came in the second half. She also closed out the set with an ace.
"My team's counting on me. I want to do this for them, for my family, for the people that drove so many hours to come here and see us," Gielas said.
The final set was just as competitive. Even though Gilmour opened up a 16-10 lead, the Lions battled back to tie it at 18. With a third straight set tied at 22, it could have gone either way. But the Lancers turned to their bread and butter of offense and serving to close it out on kills by Channell and Davis, and a Whitner ace.
Fellow seniors Addy Franz and Lindy Radaszewski joined Gielas among the team leaders. Franz closed out her career with 34 assists while Radaszewski led the Lions with five blocks.
"This team fought fought with so much heart, and I think that's one of the most valuable things. Win or lose, we always win in the game of heart because that's what this team has," Radaszewski said
Senior sendoff
The Lions say goodbye to eight seniors: Gielas, Radaszewski, Audrey Faist, Alice Finn, Franz, Madeline Gosky, Alyse Smith and Rainey Weidman.
Finn, Kaitlyn Crable and Willow Smith's mothers all played on the 1993 state championship team. The parents of this group of seniors are surely proud of all they've accomplished in their high school careers.
"All of our parents, they come to every game. They always have their own little superstitions, and they love and enjoy coming to watch us and we can't be more grateful for their support," Franz said.