It came full circle for Redskins coach Diana Kramer, who started out as a St. Henry team manager and later played for the Redskins before playing at Duquesne.
“I was one of the few St. Henry players who never won a state title,” Kramer said. “So, to come back as a coach and at 27 years old have a state championship under my belt is incredible. And to follow in the footsteps of (former St. Henry championship coaches) DeDe Stoner and Lori Schwieterman means everything to me.”
After dropping the first two sets, the Saints fought back in the third, but they couldn’t maintain the momentum in the fourth set as the top-ranked Redskins lived up to their billing. St. Henry senior outside hitter Katie Hoyng led all players with 26 kills. It is the second straight year that Tuscarawas Central Catholic has settled for runner-up.
“It is just an unbelievable feeling,” Kramer said with tears welling. “And it’s extremely special because the entire St. Henry community has been with us the whole way.”
Division I: Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame knocked off top-ranked Toledo St. Ursula 25-14, 25-22, 23-25, 25-8, ending the Arrows' 48-match winning streak.
The Cougars earned their sixth state championship and joined Cincinnati Seton as one of only two schools with that many. Only St. Henry (7), Cincinnati St. Ursula (8) and Newark Catholic (8) have more.
“These girls were so determined; they’ve been preparing for this since March,” Mount Notre Dame coach Joe Burke said. “We came out with a lot of energy and our defense was spectacular.”
Trailing by two sets, the Arrows fought back to take the third but could not maintain the momentum.
“They came out right away, serving very well and had us on our heels,” St. Ursula coach John Buck said. “They took us right out of our game.”
The Arrows could never find their rhythm as the Cougars sped to a 25-8 win. St. Ursula ended its season 28-1, state runner-up for the third time since 2000.
By the numbers: Attendance was 13,644 for the three days of play at the Nutter Center, an increase of approximately 2,000 over last year.
St. Henry sold the most presale tickets of any of the state qualifying teams at 985 for the semifinals and 918 for the Division IV championship match.
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