T-L Photo/SETH STASKEY SHADYSIDE SENIOR Caroline Mercer celebrates after the Tigers won their second consecutive OVAC Class 2A volleyball title Saturday evening at Union Local by outlasting Caldwell in five sets.

MORRISTOWN — Many who follow prep volleyball thought Shadyside may take a step back after it won its first Ohio Valley Athletic Conference title in the sport last season because it graduated several key pieces.

The Tigers, however, didn’t have those same thoughts.

Shadyside used a late surge before the OVAC cutoff to earn the top seed in the Class 2A Tournament and then Saturday night officially made it a repeat by fending off a strong and young Caldwell squad in an epic, five-set match by scores of 20-25, 25-14, 25-23, 20-25 and 15-11 at Union Local High School.

“I don’t have the words right now to describe it,” Tigers head coach Eric Mercer said. “It’s just amazing. These girls came together when they had to. We have four, first-time varsity starters and throughout the course of the season, they came together, became a team and really lifted each other up when we were down.”

That ability to lift each other up was needed early in the match against the Redskins. Caldwell, which took out Monroe Central in five sets in Tuesday’s semifinal, came out ready to go and actually owned a 21-9 lead in the first before the Tigers rallied to make the first set respectable.

Because of what Mercer alluded to, his team didn’t blink.

“We had momentum going our way and played really well in the second set, well in the third, but you have to finish,” Mercer said. “Caldwell’s a good team and you can not give them a window.”

After the Tigers appeared to gain full control in the second and third-set victories, the Redskins took that window that the Tigers opened and crawled through it to get the match to the fifth set.

“When the match goes to the fifth, you have to believe that the girls can fight back and do what they have to to win the match,” Mercer said. “As a coach, you have to trust their heart and effort. The girls’ energy was phenomenal and we made plays when we had to (in the fifth).”

While the newcomers were key cogs, many of those key plays came from the veteran trio of senior Paige Gorby, senior Caroline Mercer and junior Gentry Brown.

It seemed each time Shadyside needed a point to stop a Caldwell spurt Brown or Gorby received an ideal set from Mercer to deliver a bruising spike.

Brown may actually need to ice her arm after she delivered 28 kills, while taking numerous big swings. She also had 20 digs, four aces, two blocks and 12 points.

Gorby, meanwhile, posted nine kills, 23 digs and four blocks. Mercer handed out 42 assists and had 12 digs.

“Those three have been amazing,” Mercer said. “I can’t ask for any more leadership or hustle out of that group.”

Sophomore Macy Hendershot was an important contributor with 10 kills, six blocks and three digs. Bayleigh Harman posted four kills, three digs and 12 points. Janelle Greenwood was charted for 10 points, two blocks and four digs.

With the OVAC trophy back in their possession, the Lady Tigers will take aim at defending the Division IV Eastern District Championship they won last season.

Shadyside’s second season opens on Monday at home against St. John Central Academy. Should it prevail, the Tigers would then face the winner of the opening match inside the Tiger Den, which pits Monroe Central against Conotton Valley.

“We’ll see what happens,” Mercer said. “Caldwell is in our half of the bracket, so assuming higher seeds prevail, we would see them again. I would love to get back to the district final again. Our goals are high, and I think we’ve shown that we can play with anybody.”

Here’s a look at the other four championship games:

Class 1A

Wellsville def. Conotton Valley, 25-12, 25-8, 25-19

The Tigers remained undefeated by sweeping the Rockets.

The title is the 10th in school history, but first since 2003.

Wellsville was led on the stat sheet by talented freshman Pressley Stokes, who had 22 kills, four blocks, three aces and seven points. Alana Amato had 10 kills, two digs and eight points. Aubri Ramsey had 10 digs, 13 points and two aces. Emily McNichol had 14 assists and four kills.

The Rockets were led Masy Baker, who had eight kills. Chloe Stuber posted 17 assists and five digs. Daphne Stuber posted six digs. Kelsey Edie had nine digs.

Class 3A

Fort Frye def. Shenandoah, 25-17, 25-27, 25-22, 25-11

The Cadets successfully defended their conference title and posted their championship of the young school year by fending off the Zeps in four sets.

Fort Frye was led on the stat sheet by Makenna Long, who had 28 kills, 12 digs and nine points. Julia Zalmanek had 13 kills and Madyson Long posted 12 kills and nine digs.

Lilli Schilling had 20 digs and Bella Schilling had 44 assists.

Leading Shenandoah was sophomore Mya Leach, who had seven kills and 19 digs. Charli Wickham had five kills. Grace Wikander and Makenna Clift each had 11 digs. Ryleigh Sherman had seven assists. Heather Merry had six assists and five blocks.

Class 4A

Beaver Local def. East Liverpool, 25-13, 25-19, 25-15

By virtue of sweeping the county-rival Potters, the Beavers made it back-to-back conference titles.

The Beavers were led on the stat sheet by Grace Hill, who had 12 kills and five blocks. Elizabeth Kolkowski had 12 kills.

Brooke Talbot put forth a brilliant all-around performance with five kills, 18 assists, nine digs, three aces and seven points. Bailey Bowersock had five kills and 11 digs. Emma Joseph had 19 assists and five digs. Briar Wolski added five kills and eight digs.

The Potters, meanwhile, were led by Jetta Fitch, who had five kills. Naudia Williams and Dalani Ice each had four kills. Gabby George and Faith Grafton each had nine assists.

Class 5A

Morgantown def. University, 25-22, 25-18, 25-17

The Mohigans made quick work of the city-rival Hawks to repeat as the big-school champions.

The title is the fourth all-time for Morgantown.

On the stat sheet, Morgantown was led by Kaitlyn Anderson’s 10 kills. Emily Goldcamp had nine kills and four digs. Audrey Buck had seven kills, 18 assists and eight digs. Paige Brock had 13 assists, four digs and six kills.

The Hawks were led by Norah Chase’s seven kills, three digs and eight points. Sierra Lanham had five kills and six blocks, while Sidney Reed had five kills and five digs. Anna Voris had 22 digs and Elana Haddad added nine digs.