ENGLEWOOD, OH – The magical and history-making season for Mississinawa Valley Volleyball came to an end in the OHSAA DVII Regional Tournament, facing a solid Fort Loramie team that would require playing nearly perfect to win.
Mississinawa at times showed the ability to play with the DVII defending State Champions and made them work for it … but the Redskins won the bigger plays when the game was tight in the first two sets, which was played much closer than the score.
Fort Loramie won in three straight sets by the score of 25-18, 25-17, 25-13 to advance to the Regional Finals, where they will take on Russia.
The WOAC was represented well by Mississinawa Valley, who finished 2nd in the WOAC, along with Arcanum, who finished first, giving the conference two teams playing in the sweet sixteen.
Mississinawa Valley season concludes at 21-5, a school record for wins in a season.
Blackhawks coach Taylor Rawlings was proud of her team’s fight till the end and her four seniors, who have contributed well to the program over the last four years
“We didn’t give up the whole time, and that’s something I’m really proud of for these kids; it was an absolutely special season, going further than any other team in history,” Rawlings stated.
“Our four seniors, Danika Neargarder, Allyson Waymire, Cora, and Makenna Hoggatt, have all contributed to the success of this program for the last four years, and when I came here this summer, they didn’t miss anything. They came in, worked hard, and wanted to learn. That desire to learn, to work hard, it’s going to take them alot further in life than any volleyball game ever will,” Rawlings praised.
Coach Rawlings hopes this experience will motivate current players and upcoming players to be eager to get right back at it, or at least when they can, working towards an even better year next season.
“I would also like to thank the community for their support. You know, the people traveled this far … to all of our games, we had a lot a fans here tonight, so it’s great to see a community that wants to help support their girls.
“Most of all, I want to praise and thank my girls, they’re the ones that come in, day in and day out, work hard and produced this wonderful season. It’s not easy when it’s over, but they can hold their head high … it was something to be proud of,” Rawlings concluded.
