2021 OHSAA Volleyball State Championships
Division I
Magnificat Tops Olentangy Liberty for First State Title
DAYTON, Ohio – After topping defending state champion Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame in the state semifinals Thursday, Rocky River Magnificat defeated Powell Olentangy Liberty 3-1 (25-21, 24-26, 25-14, 25-19) Saturday in the Division I state championship match at the Nutter Center at Wright State University.
The Blue Streaks (23-6) were making their fifth appearance in the state tournament and take home their first championship. These two teams met twice in the regular season, with Olentangy Liberty winning both matches (3-0 and 3-1), but it was the Blue Streaks turn in the state final.
Magnificat was led Saturday by senior Ella Ford and sophomore Mary Flanagan with 14 kills apiece, while junior Lauren Yacobucci had 47 assists and four aces. Junior Sophia Anghilante had nine kiss and seven assist blocks, while senior Abbey Havrilla had 29 digs and three aces.
Olentangy Liberty (27-2) was making its second appearance in the state tournament (2018) and takes home its first state runner-up trophy. The Patriots were led by senior Michelle Ezenekwe with 16 kills and junior Meredith Mrukowski with 37 assists.
Division II
Gilmour Academy Secures Back-To-Back State Championships
DAYTON, Ohio – Gates Mills Gilmour Academy secured its third state championship in program history after defeating St. Bernard Roger Bacon 3-2 (25-21, 25-14, 26-28, 19-25, 15-12) Saturday in the OHSAA Division II state championship match at the Nutter Center at Wright State University.
The Lancers (25-3) were making their eighth appearance in the state tournament and now have won back-to-back state titles for the first time in program history. They were led by senior Kathryn Randorf, who had 83 attack attempts and whose 33 kills were two shy of the Division II five-set state tournament record. Freshman Ella Jackson had 54 assists.
Gilmour’s 66 kills were one shy of the Division II five-set state tournament record.
Roger Bacon (22-7) was led by sophomore Kelsey Niesen with 19 kills. Senior Sammi Hoffmann had 38 assists and 5 service aces. The Spartans were making their first state tournament appearance since 2007. They have three state titles and three state runners-up in eight trips to the Final Four.
Division III
Liberty-Benton Finishes Undefeated Season with State Title
DAYTON, Ohio – Findlay Liberty-Benton wrapped up a perfect 30-0 season with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-17) win over Independence Saturday in the OHSAA Division III state championship match at the Nutter Center at Wright State University.
Both teams were undefeated entering the match. Independence (28-1) was ranked No. 1 in the final coaches state poll and Liberty-Benton was ranked No. 5. It is the first time since 2006 that the Division III state champion has finished the season undefeated (Anna).
The state title is the second for Liberty-Benton in two trips to the state tournament (2019). The Eagles defeated No. 8 Ottawa-Glandorf and No. 2 Coldwater in the district tournament. They are 10th school in OHSAA history to win 30 matches in a season.
The Eagles were led by senior Izzy Granger and junior Karis Willow, who both had 15 kills. Senior Sydney Elseser had 33 assists and senior Kelsey Conkright had 17 digs.
Independence was making its fifth trip to the Final Four and has now finished as state runner-up the last four years. The Blue Devils were led by were led by seniors Callie Prokoplus and Hanna Wilson, who both had 10 kills, and Abby Avila, who had 31 assists.
Division IV
New Knoxville Takes Home First State Title with Win over MAC Foe St. Henry
DAYTON, Ohio – Separated by just 23 miles, Midwest Athletic Conference rivals New Knoxville and St. Henry met in the OHSAA Division IV state championship match Saturday at the Nutter Center at Wright State University, with the Rangers from New Knoxville earning a 3-1 (22-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-19) victory for its first state championship.
New Knoxville (27-2) was making its third trip to the Final Four and was the 2006 state runner-up. The Rangers defeated St. Henry during the regular season and topped 2020 state champion Tiffin Calvert and 2019 state champion New Bremen during the tournament.
New Knoxville was led by senior Carsyn Henschen with 19 kills and six block assists. Senior Avery Henschen had 13 kills, while senior Erica Weadock had 37 assists.
St. Henry (22-7) was making its 15th appearance st at the state tournament, which ranks third in OHSAA history behind Newark Catholic (21) and Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame (17). The Redskins now own seven state championships and five state runners-up. St. Henry was led by sophomore Chloe Gels with 18 kills, while sophomore Lydia Werling had 42 assists.
Division III
Liberty-Benton Finishes Undefeated Season with State Title
DAYTON, Ohio – Findlay Liberty-Benton wrapped up a perfect 30-0 season with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-17) win over Independence Saturday in the OHSAA Division III state championship match at the Nutter Center at Wright State University.
Both teams were undefeated entering the match. Independence (28-1) was ranked No. 1 in the final coaches state poll and Liberty-Benton was ranked No. 5. It is the first time since 2006 that the Division III state champion has finished the season undefeated (Anna).
The state title is the second for Liberty-Benton in two trips to the state tournament (2019). The Eagles defeated No. 8 Ottawa-Glandorf and No. 2 Coldwater in the district tournament. They are 10th school in OHSAA history to win 30 matches in a season.
The Eagles were led by senior Izzy Granger and junior Karis Willow, who both had 15 kills. Senior Sydney Elseser had 33 assists and senior Kelsey Conkright had 17 digs.
Independence was making its fifth trip to the Final Four and has now finished as state runner-up the last four years. The Blue Devils were led by were led by seniors Callie Prokoplus and Hanna Wilson, who both had 10 kills, and Abby Avila, who had 31 assists.