VANDALIA – The Arcanum Lady Trojans made history Saturday, sweeping the Cincinnati Country Day Lady Knighthawks to capture their first OHSAA district volleyball championship in 43 years.
“We knew today was more of a mental game for us,” said Arcanum head coach Jacie Holman. “Not being in a district game in 43 years, we didn’t know what to expect. The crowd level can be different, playing in a new gym can feel different. I’m proud of the girls—they came in locked in and ready to go.”
Arcanum-Butler Superintendent John Stephens praised the team’s balance and poise. “It’s impressive just thinking back. We’ve had a lot of talented teams and great fights, but this team almost made it look easy,” Stephens said. “The depth of our hitters—so many girls can attack you from anywhere. It’s just impressive. I’m very proud.”
Country Day scored first to open Set 1, but that would be its only lead of the night. Arcanum responded with seven straight points to go up 7-1 and never looked back. The Lady Trojans extended their lead to 15-5 and closed out the set, 25-10.
Set 2 started tight, with Arcanum leading 4-3 before pulling away to 12-6. Country Day hung around to make it 16-13, but Arcanum finished strong to win 25-21 and take a 2-0 lead.
“I told the girls they were letting them have that second set,” Holman said. “We needed to change that. We needed to make it clear to everyone in this gym that we earned that third and final set—and the match.”
Arcanum was all business in the third set, jumping out to a commanding 16-5 lead before forcing a Country Day timeout. The Lady Trojans never let up, cruising to a 25-12 win to seal the sweep and secure the program’s first district championship since 1982.
“We kind of fell apart in that second set, but I knew we’d come back in the third and really seal the deal,” Holman said.
The win was fueled by the ever-energetic Arcanum fan base, including the front two rows of parents led by Ben Garbig, who kept the energy high from start to finish.
“All 14 of them—they’re not ready to be done,” Holman said of her players. “Our chemistry is through the roof. These girls love one another. They know we don’t win on one player; they know all 14 girls are in it together. They want to keep going as long as we can.”
Holman praised her athletes’ dedication year-round. “We have a great group of girls that have been in the gym since June doing basketball, then July for volleyball, and they’re always on the softball fields,” she said. “They know the commitment it takes. They said, ‘Let’s go,’ and I’m proud of them—not just as athletes, but as people.”
The Lady Trojans advance to the Sweet 16, where they’ll face the Fort Recovery Lady Indians on Wednesday, October 29, in a regional semifinal at Northmont High School with an 8 p.m. start time.
Arcanum dropped a road match to Fort Recovery earlier in the season, 25-22, 25-21, 25-18, but Holman believes her team is ready.
“We’ll have to play a better game than we did today,” she said, “but I know we’ve made great progress since we saw them at the start of the season. I feel pretty good about where we’re standing right now.”
