GALION — The volleyball juggernaut that is Highland rumbled into Galion Tuesday evening looking to clinch another league title with a win.
Galion — after losing at Highland in three games on September 7 — had one chance to secure at least a share of the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference championship.
The Tigers responded, rallying from a 2-1 deficit — and trailing 10-5 in the fifth set — to defeat the Scots, 3-2, by scores of 25-20, 24-26, 19-25, 25-22, 15-11.
The win was historic in that it ended a 136-game league win streak by Highland, the third longest in state volleyball history.
The Tigers never panicked, even with their backs to the wall against a powerful opponent.
“I told the girls we just have to relax and play,” Galion coach Kathleen Scott said. “We can’t let the outside (distractions) affect our play on the court. We can’t let the calls affect us. We’ve just got to make sure we just relax and play our game.”
Highland coach Rob Terrill was honest in his assessment.
“That’s what we expected,” Terrill said of the close match. “They’re a very good team. We beat them 3-0 at our place. I told the girls, ‘You don’t have to beat a team twice, just split with them as long as you’re beating everybody else.
“We’re both the top two teams in the league and that’s what you expect. We came in here tonight and just made a lot of errors early on. That’s what kind of got us behind.”
The Scots trailed in every set early. The Tigers took a 4-0 lead in the first set and led throughout save for a 12-12 tie.
The second set saw 14 ties — the last at 24-24 — before Highland registered the final two points to even the match.
Highland overcame a 13-9 deficit in the third set, outscoring the hosts 16-6 to take a 2-1 lead with a 25-19 win.
The Tigers were never behind in the fourth — albeit close — set, to knot the match and set up the critical fifth set.
“We score a lot, and we give up a lot,” Terrill said. “I’d rather it wasn’t that way, but that’s the way we play. Our girls are experienced. They’re confident in themselves. They don’t get too down. We just kept trying to get one point at a time.”
In the fifth set, the Scots eased out to a 10-5 lead and looked headed for their 137th straight league win. Galion had other ideas.
The Tigers scored 10 of the last 11 points for the improbable comeback win.
“Every time we tense up, that’s when we make mistakes,” Scott said. “In that fifth set, when we were down by four, I called the last timeout that I had.
“I keep telling the girls, ‘You’ve just got to relax. Trust what we did in the gym to get prepared, trust that we did what we’re supposed to do, and we did it.”
Ella Payne was 26 of 27 serving with 26 digs and 52 assists for the Tigers. Ashley Dyer had 25 serve receives, and Madelyn Schieber was 19 for 19 serving with 21 serve receives and 15 digs.
“We like to think of every single one of us as part of this team and we work together to the best of our abilities,” Scott said. “And when we have a hot hitter, that’s who we got to. All the girls understand and support that. All have their time to shine.”
Larsen Terrill had 49 assists and 19 digs for Highland. Zoya WInkelfoos had 33 serve receives and 17 digs, Camryn Miller had 33 serve receives and 16 digs and Brooke Schott had six blocks.
Coach Terrill said his team had a lull at an inopportune time — late in the fifth set.
“That’s where we kind of letup a little bit,” Terrill said. “Our passing was a little bit off and then we were giving them free balls and they were just taking care of them. They were doing what they did. They were taking good swings.”
“I would say it’s a big win for us,” Scott said. “It’s probably one of the biggest wins we’ve had all season. Rob has a great program. He is probably one of the best coached I know. He coaches a great team and has a great program.”
“It’s just tough to play on the road and that was a great atmosphere, an atmosphere we typically don’t have,” Terrill said. “But you’re not always playing for a league championship either. Not that either team clinched it tonight, but you know we’re the two top teams in the league.”
“It’s exciting and it’s huge for us going into tournament time,” Scott said. “We’re pretty pumped.”