KETTERING — Arcanum’s bid for a regional volleyball championship ended with a straight-set loss to Madeira, but coach Jacie Holman said the defeat would not define a season that included another pair of championships.
The Lady Amazons defeated the Lady Trojans 25-19, 25-21, 25-15 in an OHSAA Division V regional semifinal, ending Arcanum’s season after its fourth consecutive Western Ohio Athletic Conference title and second straight district championship.
“We’re not letting that one loss define our season right now,” Holman said. “I’m extremely proud of them, and they have surpassed all of my expectations, and that’s what I want to focus on.”
Arcanum advanced to the regional tournament by sweeping Miami Valley Christian Academy for the district championship. Against Madeira, the Lady Trojans stayed within reach through much of the first two sets but could not find the consistency needed to pull ahead.
In the opening set, Arcanum trailed just 19-17 before Madeira finished with a 6-2 run to take a 1-0 match lead.
The second set followed a similar pattern. The teams were tied 7-7, and Arcanum remained within a point at 14-13, 16-15 and 17-16. The Lady Trojans were still within striking distance at 21-20 before the Lady Amazons scored four of the final five points to win 25-21.
“In all of those sets, I felt like we were within reach,” Holman said. “It was just one or two points.”
Holman said hitting errors, miscommunication and difficulty handling Madeira’s pressure prevented Arcanum from building momentum.
“I give kudos to Madeira; they were getting us out of system a lot, and we just couldn’t answer,” she said.
The Lady Trojans fell behind 5-1 in the third set and trailed 10-5 before mounting a comeback. Arcanum cut the deficit to 15-14, but Madeira answered with a decisive 10-1 run to complete the sweep and advance to the regional final.
Holman, the WOAC coach of the year for four consecutive seasons, said her team appeared tight and struggled to adjust once Madeira gained the advantage.
“They had that momentum, and we were always playing the catch-up game,” she said.
The coach said shot selection was another factor. Arcanum had emphasized placing attacks effectively and keeping rallies alive, but too many opportunities ended with balls hit or tipped out of bounds.
Holman praised Harper Smith’s response to mistakes, pointing to her attitude as a positive during a difficult match.
“You’re going to make mistakes. It’s OK. It’s how you come back from those mistakes,” Holman said. “She came back with a positive attitude.”
The loss marked the final match for seniors Emily Fox, Ella Flatter, Jordyn Garbig and Cameron Garbig, a group Holman credited with setting a standard through its leadership and commitment.
“This senior class is special,” she said. “They’re a great group, and I will miss them tremendously on and off the court.”
The four seniors helped carry Arcanum through another championship season, extending the program’s conference title streak and earning consecutive district crowns while moving from Division VI to Division V.
“Winning WOAC four years in a row says something about them,” Holman said.
Their influence extended beyond the results. Holman said the seniors understood her expectations and often took charge in team huddles without needing direction.
“They led every game,” she said. “I didn’t even have to say things often; they would just go in a huddle, and they knew what I wanted.”
Although the regional loss brought an abrupt finish, Holman said the seniors’ contributions would remain part of the program.
“I will miss them, and I love them dearly,” she said, “but I know they’re going to do great things.”
