This was new territory for both teams.
Lafayette’s volleyball team had not played in a state Final Four since 1999. Warhill, which opened its doors in 2007, had never even played a regional-tournament game prior to this season.
That did not stop the Lions from becoming the first athletic team in the school’s brief seven-year history to advance to a state championship game after defeating Northside 3-1 in the first of two 3A state semifinals held at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center on Thursday.
In the nightcap, Lafayette ran into a more experienced Hidden Valley team that was making its fourth-straight appearance in the state semifinals. Despite giving the Titans all they could handle, the Rams suffered a season-ending loss in four sets.
As a result, Warhill and Hidden Valley will decide the inaugural 3A state championship at 3 p.m. Saturday at VCU.
Koon Carries Lions Past Northside
Since earning all-state recognition as a freshman two years ago, Alex Koon has made a name for herself as one of the top hitters in the entire state.
But, as Northside coach Amy Crawford pointed out after her team fell 3-1 (25-12, 25-16, 14-25, 25-22) to Koon and the Lions in the semifinal round of the 3A state volleyball tournament Thursday at VCU’s Siegel Center, the junior outside hitter is as savvy on the court as she is powerful.
Koon posted a game-high 14 kills to go along with five digs, three blocks and a pair of aces in leading Warhill to its first-ever state-tournament victory and state-championship game appearance.
The Lions (20-5) will take on Hidden Valley at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Siegel Center.
“She hurt us with her smarts as much as her height,” Crawford said of the 6-foot, 4-inch Koon. “It’s not just how hard she hits it, it’s also her placement. She knows when to go for the drop and when to unload on one.”
Behind Koon, Warhill cruised to a 2-0 lead after winning the first two sets 25-12 and 25-16, respectively.
In the third, the Lions got a bit complacent and struggled with service errors and passing. Northside (25-6), making the program’s second state-semifinal appearance, took full advantage and ran away with a 25-14 win.
“Anyone who’s played this game knows that after you win the first two, that third set is always the hardest set to win because you’re relaxed and take for granted that you won the first two games and just let down,” Warhill coach Greg Koon said afterward. “[Northside] definitely battled, but we were able to regroup.”
Northside would not go down quietly, though, and kept things close throughout the fourth and final set before Warhill edged out a 25-22 victory.
Koon continued her strong all-around play during the set, but Colby Norris (11 digs, nine kills) and Cori Clifton (14 digs, four kills, four aces) chipped in with superb defensive efforts and offered a few big hits at the net, too.
Clifton’s well-placed cross-court kill gave the Lions a 20-15 advantage before the Vikings rallied back to tie things at 20-all.
Back-to-back kills by Koon put Warhill on top 22-20 before Megan Harrigan, who finished with 32 assists, set up Clifton for the game-winning and match-clinching kill.
“I don’t think I could put into words how proud I am of these girls,” Coach Koon said. “To play at the level we’ve been playing the past few weeks makes me very proud. We were a little worried about the nerves coming in since it was our first time being here, but I think the girls did a fantastic job jumping right out from the beginning and showing their capabilities.”
Lafayette Rally Comes Up Short Against Hidden Valley
Lafayette has built a reputation this season for rallying from behind to sting opponents.
Bay Rivers District members Warhill and Grafton can attest, as the Rams came from behind to earn five-set victories over both teams during the regular season. Last week, Lafayette clinched a berth to states by rallying from a 24-19 deficit in the final set to earn a 26-24 victory.
The Rams were at it again Thursday against Hidden Valley in the 3A state semifinals before a rare and unfortunate turn of events halted the comeback attempt in its tracks.
Trailing 2-1 in the fourth set, Lafayette seemed poised to force a deciding fifth game as the Rams built a 17-14 advantage before being penalized for an illegal rotation. That brought the score to 16-16 and clearly shook the team’s confidence as Hidden Valley (28-2) won the next two points to take an 18-16 lead on back-to-back errors by Lafayette.
True to form, the Rams (18-8) rallied from a 24-20 deficit to tie things at 24-all, but ultimately lost by a score of 26-24 for the second game in a row.
Abby Oren (11 kills, seven digs) keyed the comeback with a pair of kills set up by Julia Howard (25 assists) — the hustle play from Caitlin Noffsinger and Shaylee Ruescher played a part, too — before Hidden Valley’s standout middle hitter Madison Morris blocked Kiersten Langerud at the net for the match-clinching point.
“It was unfortunate because it was a three-point swing, but it was the right call,” Lafayette coach Keith Nowadly said of the penalty. “But we’ve been that come-from-behind team, so we didn’t panic even when we were down and that’s why we were able to come back and win the second set and then tie it up in the fourth.”
Langerud, who led Lafayette with 12 kills and has been the linchpin to the Rams’ success this season, said, “It’s always kind of been a far reach for us to get to states, but when we beat Grafton, we said, ‘Wow we can actually do this and we can play.’ I’m so proud that we got the opportunity to come here. To say that you finished third in the state is awesome and is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Warhill def. Northside 25-12, 25-16, 14-25, 25-22
Warhill (20-5)- Koon 14 kills, five digs, four blocks; Norris 11 digs, nine kills; Clifton 14 digs, four kills, four aces; Harrigan 32 assists.
Northside (25-6)- Aleah Keaton 14 kills, 10 digs; Elena West 31 assists, 10 digs; Olivia Earls 13 digs.
Hidden Valley def. Lafayette 25-16, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24
Hidden Valley (28-2)- Morris 16 kills, five blocks; Hannah Podeschi 14 digs, 11 kills
Lafayette (18-8)- Langerud 12 kills, four aces; Howard 25 assists, 12 digs; Noffsinger 12 digs, four aces; Oren 11 kills, seven digs.
