D3 Finals Recap: Costlow, Payne Get SMCC Back On Top

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156292' first='Jessica' last='Costlow'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156321' first='McKenna' last='Payne'] </strong>were freshmen, it seemed certain they would be state champions with the St. Mary Catholic Central volleyball team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But, the duo experienced a lot of heartbreak during their quest to win the hardware.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It started in 2021 when the Kestrels lost to Reese in the final after being up two sets. Payne and Costlow were the lone freshmen on the squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In 2022, SMCC fell in four sets in the quarterfinal to eventual champion, Pewamo-Westphalia, with the duo as sophomores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":724139,"width":"318px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/D3-Final-27.jpg?w=884" alt="" class="wp-image-724139" style="width:318px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year, as juniors, SMCC had no answer for eventual champion, Kalamazoo Christian. The Kestrels would get swept in the state semifinal, scoring just 42 points in the match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With all these disappointing losses in the rearview, Costlow and Payne finally got their championship on Saturday when SMCC defeated Traverse City St. Francis in the Division 3 state final, 25-21, 25-20, 25-15.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“All through this year we were saying that, ‘this is the year,'” Payne said after the win. “We were here our freshman year and lost in the finals. We didn't make it past quarterfinals as sophomores, and didn't make it past semis last year. This year, I am just so proud of everyone. We all did it together.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Francis was game early on, battling hard to make the Kestrels earn every point. However, SMCC just had a little more fire power toward the end of the first and second sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the third, SMCC had learned from previous years, making sure it took care of business while it had the chance. The Kestrels jumped out to a 12-5 lead and never looked back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“That was an incredible match for us,” SMCC coach Kim Windham said. “We knew that St. Francis was a good team. They had some weapons that we saw when we got to watch them (Friday). To sweep them in three, is very exciting for us.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Payne has been doing a little bit of everything for the SMCC program since she came on as a freshman. Committed to Utah to play libero, Payne has been a defender, hitter and setter throughout her prep career. On Saturday, she concluded her time with SMCC with eight kills, eight assists and 13 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Costlow, who is heading to Toledo next fall, finished with a match-high 15 kills to go along with 12 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='456251' first='Alexa' last='Turner'] </strong>recorded 20 assists and eight digs, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='226877' first='Olivia' last='Beaudrie'] </strong>had 11 digs with two kills and four assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Francis was led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='220968' first='Quinn' last='Yenshaw']</strong>, who had 12 kills and right digs. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='516948' first='Lola' last='Brown'] </strong>added eight kills, while <strong>Reese Muma </strong>had six. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='226903' first='Reese' last='Jones'] </strong>had 14 assists, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='223048' first='Avery' last='Nance'] </strong>had 14 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“St. Mary's is just an amazing team. They have great ball control and great hitters,” St. Francis coach Kathleen Nance said. “We just weren't able to have an answer for that.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday's state title is the eighth in SMCC's history, with the last coming in 2020.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>SMCC ends its season with a 39-4-1 record. St. Francis concludes the year at 35-13-3.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->