DaytonDailyNews.com

FAIRBORN — Olmsted Falls defeated Cincinnati Ursuline Academy, 39-37, 16-25, 25-21, 25-12 to win the Division I girls state high school volleyball championship Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Nutter Center.

A marathon first game (37 minutes) highlighted a match between the No. 1 (Ursuline) and No. 2 teams in the final state ratings.

The 39-37 first-game score is the highest in a state tournament championship match since Ohio went to the rally scoring format in 2004. The previous high was 28-26, set on three different occasions. The first game featured 17 ties and six lead changes.

"That close, that long, that first game really did a number on our girls," Ursuline coach Jeni Case said. "That took some air out of our tires." Ursuline finished 28-1.

Olmsted Falls, which finishes the season as the only undefeated team in all four divisions at 29-0, was led by senior Lauren Whyte, who posted a double-double of 36 kills and 22 digs. Senior Brittany Snider also had a double-double of 19 kills and 17 digs while sophomore setter Dayna Roberts had 63 assists and 23 digs.

The Bulldogs, making their first-ever appearance in the state-title match, advanced to the state semifinals in 1977 and 2000.

"I think we were the only ones who thought we'd win this (Saturday)," said Whyte, who has committed to George Washington University. Ursuline (28-1) was led by junior Jade Henderson with a double-double of 14 kills and 17 digs, while senior Katie Schings had 12 kills, senior Holly Gottschall 11 kills and sophomore Christina Beer 10 kills. The Lions, in their ninth all-time appearance in the state final four, were attempting to win their fourth state title (1975, 1993, 2002) and finished runner-up for the fourth time (1995, 2001, 2003).

Division III

Albany Alexander defeated Gilmour Academy 25-17, 27-25, 25-15. The Spartans reeled off the first five points of the match and never looked back. Gilmour did its best to recover, but could never put the pieces together.

"We played not to lose as opposed to playing to win," said senior Madison Mawby.

Alexander was paced by senior Megan McCoy with 12 kills. The Spartans came into the match having won 45 straight games.

"This season ends a three-year progression for Alexander — they first made the semifinals in 2006 and were runner-up last season.

"Our first year here, we were just happy to make it," said four-year starter Whitney Smith. "Each year we made it a step farther."

The title marks the school's first-ever state championship in any sport.