Gilmour Academy Loses State Final in Volleyball

Three of the past four years, volleyball team has made it to the state final match, and three times they’ve come away empty-handed.

This time, Miami East of Casstown sprung another early November nightmare on Gilmour Academy, winning 3-1 to capture the Division III state championship at the Ervin J. Nutter Center at Wright State University on Saturday afternoon.

The set scores were 26-24, 17-25, 25-23, 25-21.

"We played well and got beat by a team that played better today," said Gilmour coach Kelly Coughlin.

Losing three finals in four years is difficult, but players are holding their heads high.

"Each year is another chapter. Never look at the group, just that season. We have no regrets, we feel lucky to have made this journey together," Coughlin said.

Gilmour had a tall order on its hands in facing Miami East (29-1). The Vikings are the top-ranked team in the Division III Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association State Poll. Gilmour Academy (26-3) is fifth. The Vikings won their first state title.

Miami East sisters Samantha and Abby Cash combined with Leah Dunivan for 43 kills. The Cash girls also had 49 assists.

Sophomore Jessica Janota led the Lancers with 19 kills, followed by seniors Maddie Kosar (17) and Maria Cup (10). Freshman Megan Polak had 45 assists.

Gilmour had lost only three sets heading into the final, having swept Bishop Ready of Columbus in the state semifinals Thursday afternoon.

Last season, the Lancers lost in the final to Middletown Bishop Fenwick by the same 3-1 score, and Albany Alexander swept them, 3-0, in the 2008 final.