by DAYTON, Ohio—One of these days the St. Joseph Academy Jaguars could very well break through and win a state volleyball championship, but Saturday wasn’t that day.
Making its fifth final four appearance since 2016 and second in a row, SJA couldn’t keep up with Cincinnati Seton and its stifling defense, as the Saints swept through the Division I championship match at Wright State University by the scores of 26-24, 25-16, 25-15. It is the second runner-up finish in the history of the program, as the Jaguars also placed second in 2017.
“I’m proud,” said first-year coach Jordan Kortowich. “Coming into this season, I wasn’t sure what we were going to do. But I knew what the girls on this team wanted to do, and I think we did way more than anyone expected us to do.”
SJA lost eight seniors and their head coach from last year’s team that dropped a five-set state semifinal match to eventual champion Kings Mills Kings. In the eyes of many, the Jags were the second-best team in the state in Division I last year, meaning this makes two years in a row they’ve been just one spot away from a state title.
“I don’t think it’s ever easy to lose,” said senior standout Belle Groomes, “but, I mean, we gave it all we had, and day in and day out, we had the backing of our coaches. They never stopped believing in us. We never stopped believing in each other. So, of course, yeah, it sucks getting that close. But I just couldn’t be more thankful for those that have surrounded us.”
The difference in the match was the defense played by Seton, which won its seventh state volleyball title in school history, with the last coming in 2005. The Jaguars boast big hitters such as Chloe Smith, Anne Culkar and Groomes, but many big hits that would have ended points against any other team were dug out by the Saints, led by All-Ohio libero Sakura Codling.
“Seton did a very good job of being where they needed to be,” Kortowich said. “They were really quick in transition, and they read us really well. It’s frustrating. (The players) can attest to that. But I can wholeheartedly say that all six of those girls on the court gave every ounce of effort that they had, no matter what the outcome of the point was.”
And when the ball was dug up, more times than not Seton turned it into a point. The Saints had 44 kills to 32 for SJA. Charley Moeddel, Callie Combs and Nattie Slusher each had 10 kills for Seton and Daisy Cluxton had nine. Smith led the Jaguars with 11 kills, backed by Culkar and Groomes with six each. The Saints also were very efficient on offense. In the third set they had 14 kills and only one hitting error.
The match began well for the Jaguars, who scored the first two points. However, Seton ran off the next four points and then didn’t trail again until SJA scored the first point of the third set.
The teams stood toe-to-toe for the entire first set. Seton opened a 20-14 lead, but SJA came right back and ran off six consecutive points to knot the score at 20. The score was tied at 23 and 24, but the Jags couldn’t get over the hump. Seton finally took the set on a kill by Slusser and a lift by SJA.
As competitive as the opening set was, the next two weren’t nearly as close. In the second set the Saints held a 7-6 lead before breaking away with a 5-0 run and then gradually pulling away. The third set was similar, as the score was tied at nine when Seton put together another 5-0 run to take control.
The tight first set promised a very competitive battle to the end, but it just didn’t turn out that way.
“I think we maybe just got a little timid,” said Smith, who will play at East Tennessee State next year. “I mean, it’s a pretty big game, a really important game, and we got a little timid. I think we got a little bit in our own heads. We stopped executing the game plan a little bit. But I think we still did a good job of recovering and coming together and pushing to do our best.”
Just like last year, St. Joseph Academy has eight seniors on this year’s roster. So, a lot of work is ahead to keep the program at its current level of excellence, but the example set by this year’s seniors is a good place to start.
“I hope we leave behind a legacy that it’s all about determination, drive and being there for every single one of the other players,” said Groomes, who will play at the University of San Diego next year. “I mean, every single one of us bought in this season, and that’s why we made it so far. I just think it’s really important to put yourself out there and just go out there and work hard every single day.”
