Fantastic Martins Ferry Volleyball Season Ends In Regional Semifinal

Purple Riders Finish With Program-Record 24 Wins

CAMBRIDGE - It's been said numerous times before that all good things have to come to an end sooner or later. For the Martins Ferry volleyball team it was the former, unfortunately.

The Purple Riders (24-2) dropped a 25-22, 25-23 and 25-11 decision to Meadowbrook (24-1) Thursday night in an Ohio Division V, Region 20 semifinal before a large turnout inside Gene Ford Gymnasium at Cambridge High School.

"I couldn't be more proud of these girls," Martins Ferry head coach Jaela Koller said. "Nobody wants to lose, but, oh my, I couldn't be any prouder of a group of girls in what they come out and do every day."

The Colts led from the start of the first set, sprinting to leads of 8-3, 13-7 and 21-11 before the Purple Riders ran off nine of the next 10 to pull to within 22-20 with Giana Chirpas at the service line. The senior had a kill to make it 22-15 and Nicole Hammerquist's block brought the count to 22-16. After a Meadowbrook timeout, Hammerquist recorded a kill before Chirpas had back-to-back aces. A one-handed tip by Maddie Lucas made it 22-20 before the Colts won the next point and used a block by Lily McManaway for a 24-20 lead.

Martins Ferry won the next point and another kill by Hammerquist made it 24-22, but a kill from Meadowbrook's Addie Schultice sealed the deal.

The second set went back and forth with the teams deadlocked 13 times before the Colts scored the final three points to go up 2-0.

Martins Ferry held leads of 20-18, 21-20, 22-21 and 23-22 but wouldn't score again as Meadowbrook rallied for the win.

"We had that second set," Coach Koller said. "We needed to lock it in and we didn't. Meadowbrook is a really, really good team. Then, in the third set, emotions get the best of you, and there you have it."

Meadowbrook scored early and often in bolting to an 8-3 lead and never looked back as the second set loss had taken its toll on Martins Ferry, which was never able to put together a string of points.

The Purple Riders not only set a program record with 24 victories, but they captured the first Buckeye 8 championship and the first district championship in program history, while finishing second in the OVAC Class 4A Tournament.

The loss also marked the end of the line for seniors Giana Chirpas, Camdyn Donahue, SJ Koller, Gracie Lucas, Maddie Lucas, Cadence Oberle and Alivia Reese.

"I feel their pain. This was my last rodeo with them," Coach Koller said. "It's hard ... real hard but I love each and everyone of them. I love what they've done to help bring this program to where we are at. I love their fight. I love the time and dedication they put in."

No stats were provided.

Meadowbrook advances to the regional final on Saturday at 2 p.m. against the Frankfort Adena-Chillicothe Zane Trace winner at Cambridge.