The Big Walnut Golden Eagles’ historic quest for an undefeated season and their first OHSAA state championship came to a close on Nov. 13, as they fell 25-19, 23-25, 25-20, 29-27 to the Rocky River Magnificat in the Division II state semifinal. The match, held at Vandalia Butler, featured the top two teams from the final regular season Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association poll, marking a decisive moment for the No. 1-ranked Magnificat (24-3), who now advance to face the Kings Mills Kings in the state final at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at Wright State. For Big Walnut (26-1), the loss ends a season defined by resilience, as the team had previously finished as state runners-up in 1991, 2010, and 2017 before finally reaching the championship stage.
Golden Eagles’ undefeated run ends as Magnificat advances to Division II final
Statistically, the contest was a high-octane display of offensive firepower and defensive grit from both squads. Big Walnut setter Audrey Coulson orchestrated the offense with 36 assists, eight digs, and two blocks, while Valencia McKim provided the spark with 14 kills, three blocks, and one dig. The Golden Eagles received significant support from Shelby Damron, who recorded 10 kills, 13 digs, four aces, and two blocks, alongside Sophie Hamilton’s eight kills, 10 digs, and two blocks, and Abagale Swisher’s eight kills, seven blocks, and three digs. Despite this balanced production, Magnificat’s Grace Regula dominated the front line with 20 kills, 13 digs, five aces, and two blocks, while Scarlett McDavid controlled the tempo with 54 assists, 10 blocks, and two kills.
The result cements Magnificat’s momentum as they seek their first state title since 2021, while Big Walnut departs the tournament with a 26-1 record and the knowledge that they gave the top-seeded team every chance to win. The four-set thriller highlights the parity at the top of Division II volleyball in Ohio, where minor errors in the final set proved costly for the Golden Eagles. As the focus shifts to the championship match, the narrative remains on whether Magnificat can convert their semifinal dominance into hardware
Source: Yahoo Sports
