Both Warhill and Hidden Valley entered the Virginia High School League Group 3A State Championship volleyball game Saturday looking for their program’s first state title in school history.
Despite holding the lead to start each of the first four sets, the Lions fell to the Titans 3-2 (25-18, 23-25, 31-29, 23-25, 15-9) in a back-and-forth match that went well beyond the two hours slated for the competition at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center.
“Although we didn’t come out on top like we had planned and hoped, it was a hard-fought match and Hidden Valley outplayed us,” said Warhill Coach Greg Koon. “… We’re ecstatic about our finish. We came a long way. We accomplished a lot, and this has been a growing experience and a tremendous learning experience for each one of our players.”
The Lions (19-5) started strong, winning the first point of the match with a kill from junior outside hitter Alex Koon, who notched 24 kills in the match — a total second only to her career-high 34 kills in the Region 3A East semifinal against Kettle Run.
The Lions held tight to the lead for most of the first set, eventually building to a 17-12 advantage. The Titans then went on an eight-point streak, seizing the momentum to start a 13-1 run that gave the Titans a 25-18 first-set win over the Lions.
The Titans continued their point streak to start the second set, but the Lions found their footing early to take the lead at 3-2 and keep it for the remainder of the set for a 25-22 win to tie the match at 1-1.
Though the Lions maintained the lead throughout the second set, it did not come without a fight from the Titans. Hidden Valley — led by senior Madison Morris (14 kills, 4 aces) and Hannah Podeschi (10 kills, 11 digs, 2 aces) — never let Warhill ahead more than five points and came within a point of tying them six times.
The Lions started the third set up 11-1, but lost it to a 15-2 run from the Titans to give them a 16-13 advantage. The Titans held onto that lead up until the Lions spoiled their 24-22 set point with a kill from freshman Cori Clifton (7 kills, 15 digs) who followed up with another kill to tie the game at 24.
The tug-of-war aspect of the match hit its peak in the third set, as Warhill reached set point twice and Hidden Valley reached it five times before the Titans took the set 31-29 on a kill attempt from Koon that went long.
The intensity of the third set carried into the fourth, as neither team held more than a three-point lead throughout the set. The game tied 12 times and changed hands six times before the Lions forced a fifth set after a tip from Colby Norris (7 kills, 6 digs, 3 aces) gave the Lions a 25-23 in the fourth set.
But the Lions’ momentum ended in the fourth set, as the Titans took an early lead and never looked back to win the last set 15-9 and their program’s first state title.
“It was just a really great experience on the way getting here. It was definitely a goal for us at the beginning of the season to get here and we worked hard every practice. …,” said junior setter Megan Harrigan (36 assists, 7 digs, 3 aces, 6 blocks). “I couldn’t be more proud of the team right here. Obviously we would’ve liked it if we had won, but it was a really great game for all of us and I’m so proud to be in the state tournament and be second in the state.”
The Warhill squad had its best season in the school’s seven-year history, advancing to the state final for the first time — a feat no other athletic team from the young school has achieved.
With a young roster that will next year return 10 of its 12 varsity players — including Koon, who was recently named Region 3A East Player of the Year, and Norris, who was also named to the All-Region first team — the Lions may have a good shot at avenging Saturday night’s loss next year.
“[The girls] are disappointed they didn’t finish number one, but you know, it’s going to make them better next year. They’ll come out fighting, they’ll come out stronger,” Greg Koon said.
