The goal? Knock off the team that beat them in the Division I state title match last year, Ursuline Academy, the top-ranked D-I team in the state.
“When something hurts so much, you’re not going to let it happen again,” Dublin Coffman senior Lindsey Zitzke said.
That pain is history as the third-ranked Shamrocks edged the previously unbeaten Lions 28-26, 20-25, 22-25, 25-17, 17-15 in the D-I semifinals Friday night. Dublin Coffman, in its second state appearance, is back in the finals.
“Everyone was so nervous before the match but we talked and talked our way through it,” Shamrocks coach Mary Anne Souder said. “We just decided we can’t lose to this team again.”
COURT TIME: Dublin Coffman spent the most time on the court among the state semifinals winners as it took the Shamrocks two hours and two minutes to beat Ursuline in their 2009 state finals rematch. Dublin Coffman's final foe this season, Toledo St. Ursula Academy, was among the quickest teams to advance to the finals as the Arrows swept Brecksville-Broadview Heights 25-20, 25-13, 25-13 in 1:05.
Only Sunbury Big Walnut spent less time on the court as the D-II Golden Eagles posted a straight-set win over Mansfield Madison Comprehensive in 1:02 Friday afternoon.
PAROCHIAL POWERS: Although two public schools will battle for state titles today in Dublin Coffman (D-I) and Big Walnut (D-II), Catholic schools still dominate. Toledo St. Ursula (D-I), Mentor Lake Catholic (D-II), Bishop Fenwick (D-III), Gilmour Academy (D-III), Lehman Catholic (D-IV) and New Philadelphia Tuscarawas Central Catholic (D-IV) are all in the mix as the finals get underway today.
BY THE NUMBERS: The Division I and II state semifinal matches brought 3,876 fans to the Nutter Center on Friday. The Division III and IV semifinals attendance count Thursday was 3,553.
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