Recap of all seven state championship games

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The number of classes expanded from four to seven this season. While a number of teams made it to the state tournament for the first time, only one team claimed the first state championship in school history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Division I</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Seton 3, St. Joseph 0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-15)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Saints (26-2 overall) used their depth and balance to win the seventh state championship in school history and first since 2005.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='403526' first='Grace' last='Jones'] led the defense with 15 digs and [player_tooltip player_id='152052' first='Sakura' last='Codling'] had 14. Then setters Reagan Miller and [player_tooltip player_id='368391' first='Kirsten' last='Kemper'] had 21 and 13 assists, respectively with [player_tooltip player_id='480837' first='Charley' last='Moeddel'], [player_tooltip player_id='227615' first='Callie' last='Combs'] and [player_tooltip player_id='379749' first='Nattie' last='Slusher'] recording 10 kills a piece and [player_tooltip player_id='152054' first='Daisy' last='Cluxton'] pounding down nine. Moeddel helped control the net with three assisted blocks and Slusher had two assisted blocks with Miller adding eight digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Molly Sullivan led St. Joseph (19-9) with 15 digs. [player_tooltip player_id='152043' first='Belle' last='Groomes'] had 23 assists and [player_tooltip player_id='218156' first='Chloe' last='Smith'] led the Jaguars with 11 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Division II</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Ursula (Cincinnati) 3, Anthony Wayne 2</strong> <strong>(23-25, 20-25, 25-17, 25-16, 15-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs (22-4) had been in tough situations all season, but found ways to come back to win. That experience paid off in this situation leading to the ninth state championship in school history and first one since 2003. St. Ursula has the second-most state championships in Ohio only one behind Girls Greater Catholic League rival Mount Notre Dame's 10.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='152344' first='Emsley' last='Venard'] had a solid all-around game for the Bulldogs with 60 assists, two aces, 18 digs and three assisted blocks and [player_tooltip player_id='176096' first='Molly' last='Creech'] pounded down 30 kills to go with 20 digs. [player_tooltip player_id='204230' first='Emma' last='Frietch'] started the attack with 24 digs with [player_tooltip player_id='403535' first='Maddie' last='Cho'] and Penelope Bolinger recording 15 and 13, respectively. [player_tooltip player_id='152055' first='Nia' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='227797' first='Gabby' last='Semona'] had 12 kills each with Jones recording six assisted blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anthony Wayne (25-2) made it to the state championship game for the first time in school history. Twins [player_tooltip player_id='403527' first='Leah' last='Pike'] and [player_tooltip player_id='227830' first='Mallory' last='Pike'] led the Generals with 30 and 22 kills, respectively. Ryan Dzierwa had 27 digs with [player_tooltip player_id='732846' first='Charley' last='Gardner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='412607' first='Jessie' last='Kennelly'] adding 17 and 11, respectively. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='476378' first='Aubrey' last='Rieger'] had 52 assists with [player_tooltip player_id='227830' first='Mallory' last='Pike'] digging up 16 balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anthony Wayne had 12 aces to three for St. Ursula. [player_tooltip player_id='403527' first='Leah' last='Pike'] led the way with six for the Generals with Gardner contributing three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Division III</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gilmour Academy 3, Ursuline (Cincinnati) 1</strong> <strong>(25-20, 25-22, 28-30, 25-22)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lancers (24-4) won their fourth state championship and first since 2021.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='446608' first='Brie' last='Habeeb'] led Gilmour Academy with 21 digs and setter [player_tooltip player_id='151988' first='Ella' last='Jackson'] dished off 53 assists. [player_tooltip player_id='152049' first='Kayla' last='Channell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='152050' first='Aubrey' last='Anders'] led the Lancers with 20 and 19 kills, respectively. [player_tooltip player_id='480840' first='Kyla' last='Williams'] had 11 kills, two solo blocks and six assisted blocks with [player_tooltip player_id='152066' first='Marlie' last='Davis'] pounding down 10 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions (21-7) made the most of a tough situation losing libero [player_tooltip player_id='176092' first='Rainey' last='Weidman'] to an injury in the second game. [player_tooltip player_id='492656' first='Mackenzie' last='Higgins'] led Ursuline with 12 digs and [player_tooltip player_id='482519' first='Addy' last='Franz'] had 34 assists. [player_tooltip player_id='176087' first='Katie' last='Gielas'] and [player_tooltip player_id='195856' first='Lindy' last='Radaszewski'] recorded 21 and 13 kills, respectively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Division IV</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Roger Bacon 3, Marlington 0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-18)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It took a complete team effort for the Spartans (24-4) to overcome the loss of standout outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='179022' first='Mariah' last='Gaines'] to an injury in the regional finals, but Roger Bacon proved up to the task recording the fourth state title in program history and first since 2005.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Standout setter [player_tooltip player_id='152056' first='Ally' last='Hughes'] led the Spartans with 30 assists and three aces. Sophomore libero Elizabeth Strouble had 13 digs with Ava Otto recording six aces and eight digs. [player_tooltip player_id='151983' first='Raegan' last='Waller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='772254' first='Etellina' last='Jackson'] had 11 kills each and Marilyn Hoffman had six.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='289169' first='Jacsyn' last='Hilliard'] led Marlington (27-2) with 14 digs with [player_tooltip player_id='289168' first='Layne' last='Graffice'] tallying 11 digs and 11 kills. Cali Young had 18 assists to lead the Dukes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Division V</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lake Catholic 3, Bishop Fenwick 1 (25-18, 18-25, 25-14, 25-20)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cougars claimed a third straight state championship behind a balanced attack and fourth one overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Avery Budrys Rini had 19 digs and 10 kills for Lake Catholic (24-4). [player_tooltip player_id='321046' first='Julia' last='Oster'] had 12 digs with [player_tooltip player_id='289172' first='Natalya' last='Bergant'] recording 11 kills and 11 digs. [player_tooltip player_id='261322' first='Ava' last='Starr'] had 47 assists with [player_tooltip player_id='480797' first='Ahnna' last='Bergant'] and [player_tooltip player_id='289187' first='Ava' last='Budrys Rini'] leading in kills with 16 and 12, respectively. Oster, [player_tooltip player_id='289187' first='Ava' last='Budrys Rini'] and Bergant had three aces each.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='480794' first='Morgan' last='Meiring'] led the Falcons (16-13) with 19 kills and 12 digs and [player_tooltip player_id='151963' first='Lyla' last='Schmitt'] had nine kills. Brookelyn Zuech had 20 assists and 14 digs with Abby Keller recording 17 assists. Emerson Moser added 13 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Division VI</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coldwater 3, Marion Pleasant 0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-12)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cavaliers only lost two sets all season completing an undefeated 29-0 run to the first state championship in school history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='721278' first='Campbell' last='Etzler'] and Brylee Knapke started things defensively with 13 digs each with [player_tooltip player_id='289171' first='Morgan' last='Blasingame'] recording 16 kills and 13 digs. Mika Knapke had 28 assists with [player_tooltip player_id='289170' first='Spencer' last='Etzler'] tallying 12 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madi Pendleton and Kami Roberts led Pleasant (25-4) with 13 and 12 digs, respectively and Sydney Smith recorded 28 assists. [player_tooltip player_id='480805' first='Kamryn' last='Cocherl'] had 19 kills and nine digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Division VII</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fort Loramie 3, Tiffin Calvert 0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-17)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Loramie standout setter [player_tooltip player_id='572577' first='Jenna' last='Barhorst'] looked to be a difference in this one and was with 39 assists and 12 digs as Fort Loramie recorded a .315 hitting percentage and held previously unbeaten Calvert (28-1) to .106.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='718902' first='Avery' last='Brandewie'] led Fort Loramie with 20 kills and [player_tooltip player_id='718912' first='Victoria' last='Mescher'] had 10. Brandewie added 10 digs with Katie Luthman leading Fort Loramie with 17 digs. Deanna Rodeheffer added 10 digs and nine kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Claire Schoenberger led the Senecas with 14 digs and [player_tooltip player_id='503990' first='Bryn' last='Dircksen'] had 26 assists. Emily Miller had a team-high eight kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Performances</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["151988"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67319860705ee"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jackson does a great job not just setting balls to the right players, but also setting them at the right angles. Jackson mixes in deceptive setter dumps for the Lancers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["289171"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6731986070653"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Blasingame rises up and pounds balls down from the pins and the middle for the Cavaliers. She is in sync with the setter on quicks and long passes to the outside. Blasingame's presence opens up space for the other Coldwater hitters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["227615"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6731986070694"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Combs (pictured) did her part to help the deeply talented Saints to the Division I state championship. Combs jumps up and makes big mid-air adjustments to put balls down. The setters put balls to her on the money and she takes care of the rest. She is also a solid six-rotation player that is not afraid to slide to dig up balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["403535"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67319860706d2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cho does a great job coming in and giving the Bulldogs quality rotations serving and defending. She picks up on where opponents are having success and makes adjustments necessary to take away those shots. Cho also has a hard line drive serve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='772254' first='Etellina' last='Jackson']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32925","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Roger Bacon","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Ohio Premier","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6731986070760"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jackson adds balance to the Spartans. Roger Bacon needed others to step forward to pull off the state championship and Jackson did her part to help there. She times up hitters at the net for good blocks and delivers a number of different hits to keep defenders guessing. Jackson is especially tough in the creases. She can push shots to different parts of the court and pound them through blockers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->