FAIRBORN — It was a long time coming for Roger Bacon volleyball coach Caryl Schawe and the Spartans. After two years of finishing runners-up, the Spartans won the Division II state championship, defeating two-time defending champion Galion 15-8, 15-5, Saturday at Wright State University.

Roger Bacon's Jamie Gittinger gives it up for a dig. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        When the final point was scored giving Roger Bacon the championship, a wild celebration broke out with Schawe throwing her arms in the air before hugging everyone in sight.

        “It hasn't sunk in yet,” Schawe said. “I told the kids before the match that some athletes only get one chance to win a state championship but they're getting a third. Time was running out.”

        The Spartans never trailed in the first game, taking a 3-0 advantage before extending it to 10-1 with Maggie Goller serving for six consecutive points.

        A defensive play by Frannie Knecht at 9-1 seemed to break the spirit of the Galion players in the first game. On a ball that seemed destined to hit the ground, Knecht got an arm on it and put it over for a point.

        “Losing the first year was tough, but last year was really hard,” Goller said. “From Day1 of conditioning, we knew we were going to get it. I could see the look on their (Galion player) faces that they were afraid of us.”

        Junior Mary Brunner played an important role during the first game. A 5-foot-9 middle hitter, Brunner came up with a game-high 10 blocks in the first game and 12 for the match.

        Galion coach Jill Wilt had nothing but praise for Roger Bacon.

        “I watched Roger Bacon play Friday and could tell they really wanted it,” Wilt said. “They made teams look like they didn't belong here. Their blocking was phenomenal and they took advantage of our defensive weaknesses.”

        Roger Bacon fell behind 2-0 to start the second game before taking control. The Spartans scored the next five points and steadily pulled away behind the setting of Emily Withers and hitting of Brittney Holden.

        “We told the kids two things they had to do to win,” Schawe said. “We had to make them play defense and run them from antenna to antenna. Our blocking tonight was the best of the season.”

        During the pregame warmups, the Roger Bacon players were loose but intense. This intensity carried over into the match that last 46 minutes.

        “They beat us in three games two years ago and 17-15 in the second last year,” senior Emily Ceddia said. “Enough is enough. We talked as a group before the match, and none of us were nervous.”

        Junior middle hitter led Roger Bacon's offensive thrust with 12 kills with Goller coming up with eight and Jamie Gittinger seven.

        But it was the defense and blocking that made the difference.

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