The Big Walnut girls volleyball team suffered its first loss of the season during a Division II state semifinal match held at Vandalia Butler on Nov. 13.
The Golden Eagles entered the contest with an unblemished record, but their pursuit of a championship ended in a 25-19, 23-25, 25-20, 29-27 defeat against Rocky River Magnificat, according to reports from Yahoo Sports.
Big Walnut concluded its campaign with a 26-1 record, falling short in its bid to secure the program’s first state title after previously finishing as runners-up in 1991, 2010 and 2017.
The match showcased the top two ranked teams from the final regular season poll provided by the Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association, as noted by The Columbus Dispatch.
Magnificat, ranked No. 1, improved to 24-3 with the victory and advanced to face Kings Mills Kings in the state final scheduled for Nov. 14 at Wright State.
Individual efforts for Big Walnut were led by setter Audrey Coulson, who recorded 36 assists, eight digs and two blocks during the competitive four-set battle.
Teammate Valencia McKim contributed 14 kills, three blocks and one dig, while Shelby Damron added 10 kills, 13 digs, four aces and two blocks to the team effort.
Sophie Hamilton tallied eight kills, 10 digs and two blocks, and Abagale Swisher finished with eight kills, seven blocks and three digs, as documented in coverage from The Dispatch.
For Magnificat, Grace Regula paced the offense with 20 kills, 13 digs, five aces and two blocks, while Scarlett McDavid provided 54 assists, 10 blocks and two kills.
The loss marked the end of a historic run for Big Walnut, which had been seeking its first championship trophy in school history.
Magnificat now looks toward the state final as it attempts to secure its first title since 2021.
The tournament continues at Wright State with the championship match set for 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 14, according to the outlets.