Big Walnut’s undefeated season and quest for a first state title concluded with a loss in the OHSAA Division II tournament.
The Golden Eagles fell to Rocky River Magnificat in four sets at Vandalia Butler High School on Nov. 13, according to Yahoo Sports.
The final scores of the semifinal match were 25-19, 23-25, 25-20 and 29-27, noted The Columbus Dispatch.
Big Walnut entered the contest with a 26-1 record while attempting to secure the program’s first championship after previous runner-up finishes.
The match featured the top two teams from the final regular season coaches association poll.
Audrey Coulson paced the Golden Eagles with 36 assists, eight digs and two blocks, while Valencia McKim contributed 14 kills.
Shelby Damron added 10 kills and 13 digs, Sophie Hamilton recorded eight kills and 10 digs, and Abagale Swisher tallied eight kills and seven blocks.
No. 1-ranked Magnificat, which holds a 24-3 record, was led by Grace Regula, who posted 20 kills, 13 digs and five aces.
Scarlett McDavid supported the effort for the Blue Streaks with 54 assists and 10 blocks.
The victory advanced Magnificat to the state final match against Kings Mills Kings.
That championship round was scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 14 at Wright State, as reported by The Columbus Dispatch.
Magnificat is currently pursuing its first state title since 2021.
The semifinal loss marked the end of a historic run for the Big Walnut squad, which had previously reached the state finals in 1991, 2010 and 2017.
Both local outlets highlighted the intensity of the matchup between the two top-ranked programs in the state.
The tournament bracket continues to narrow as the remaining teams compete for the Division II trophy.