FAIRBORN, Ohio −The current Ursuline Academy seniors were junior high students when the Lions last won Ohio Division I volleyball tiles in 2017 and 2018. Now, for the first time in four years, the big trophy can come to Blue Ash
Ursuline, who previously swept Rocky River Magnificat Oct. 1, needed four sets but prevailed over the 2021 defending champions 21-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-21. On the game-clinching point, the Lions swarmed over each other on the Nutter Center court they had battled on for the previous hour and 41 minutes.
Ursuline coach Ali Butcher was greeted by hugs from many including her husband and children.
"I think we were trying to get our sea legs under us a little bit," Butcher said of dropping the first set. "It (the championship) is something they've desired for a really long time. They've been hungry for it."
Freshman Ella Grimes and sophomore Katie Gielas had 14 kills each with senior Brooke Bultema adding 13 and sophomore Lindy Radaszewski 11. Senior Lindsey Green set many up with 48 assists.
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"This was our goal the whole season," Bultema said. "We told ourselves we were going to stay present every single day and take it one day at a time. We have worked so hard for this moment. It's so incredible to see all that hard work come to us and see the results."
Said first-year player Grimes, "I feel so shocked! I think it's amazing how we all came together and just pushed through each other."
Ursuline came in having three-set sweeps in seven of their last eight contests but dropped the first set 25-21. Ursuline rebounded in the second set leading by as many as five, only to see Magnificat respond. It was a strong showing by Grimes, who recorded eight kills in the set after just one in the opener.
The 6-foot-3-inch middle blocker Bultema and 6-foot-2-inch sophomore Katie Gielas also had some impressive downward drills to rally their green-clad fans. Those laced in lime had more reason to scream after the third set. Green had some nifty misdirection "dump" shots mixed in with the assorted Lion lasers as Ursuline won 25-22 yet again.
The final set saw Ursuline lead by as many as six but the Blue Streaks closed to 23-21 prompting a timeout from coach Butcher. Quickly, the Lions had two points and a new addition to the trophy case.
"We needed to settle down a little bit and focus," Butcher said. "It was a little bit heavy on what we needed to do to finish out this match. Magnificat did a great job."
It also completed a "Sister Act" for three Lions as Green, Gielas and Sydney Breissinger all had older sisters who played the last time Ursuline won state (Hailey Green, Emma Gielas and Peyton Breissinger).
"I've been dreaming of this day since I was in seventh grade and my sister won state at UA," Lindsey Green said. "We've fallen short in the regional finals the last five years. This team was something special. I knew this team wasn't going to give up and I knew this team was going to go all the way."
Magnificat finishes 26-3 with Ursuline at 25-3. The Blue Streaks won their first state championship last year, while Ursuline's tally is now eight out of 15 trips to the state semifinals.
It was the final game for seniors Erin Gonzalez, Abby Riehle, Breissinger, Molly Groeschen, Bultema, Green, Maddie Pitzer and Joanna Ferris. GGCL kill and block leader Bultema will next play for the Kentucky Wildcats, with Green going to Ball State and Breissinger to Creighton.
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