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ZANESVILLE -- The Toronto volleyball team made history this season, however, the Red Knights’ magical journey came to an end in the regional semifinals.
Reedsville Eastern received strong net play throughout the match against Toronto as the Eagles soared past the Red Knights on their way to sweeping the match, 25-16, 25-18, 25-13, in an Ohio Division VII Region 25 Semifinal Thursday night inside the Winland Memorial Gymnasium out at Zanesville High School.
“It just didn’t go our way,” second-year Toronto (23-3) head coach Shannon Bahen said. “We got off to a real-slow start in the first set. Eastern has a lot of weapons. Their strengths were some of our weaknesses, but our girls never gave up. It just wasn’t our night.”
The girls from the Gem City won a district title and advanced to the regional tournament for the first time in school history. It was the first time a Toronto girls’ team had advanced to the regional tournament since the school’s softball team made it to the regionals all the way back in 1991.
“I can’t say enough about this group,” Bahen said. “We talked at the beginning of the season about wanting to be the first team in program history to win an OVAC championship and a district title, and we were able to do that. I highlighted that to them. That’s important. This loss doesn’t negate what this team accomplished this season.”
Individually for Toronto, Jayna Reeves and Addison Dobbs each delivered 10 kills and one block, Kylie Mitchell tallied three blocks and one kill and Danielle Sutherin contributed 18 assists. Also, Emma Parello produced one block.
With the win, the Eagles improved to 23-2 on the season as Eastern advanced to the regional final at 3 p.m. Saturday back at Zanesville.
Eastern netted the first five points of the match against Toronto as the Eagles took a 5-0 lead in the first set. The victors increased their advantage to 11-4 causing Bahen to call her first timeout of the set. Eastern then extended their advantage to eight points with an ace. The Eagles led 19-11, however, the girls from Jefferson County battled back and pulled to within 21-16, however, they were not able to get any closer.
Seeing their lead cut down to five points, the girls from Olive Township scored the next two points to build a 23-16 advantage resulting in Bahen calling her second timeout of the set. Toronto was unable to turn the tide, and Eastern tallied the next two points to win the set by nine points to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
“We did know what to expect from them,” Bahen said. “We watched a lot of film on them. To their credit, they watched film on us. They were able to take advantage of some of our weak spots. They highlighted our weaknesses. They got us out of our system. They were able to get our setter out of there. Eastern is a fantastic team. They are well coached.”
The Red Knights tallied the first two points of the second set as they took the lead for the first time. Eastern battled back and knotted the score at 3 before the Red Knights regained the lead at 4-3. Another point by the Eagles tied the score before Toronto countered to regain the lead.
The Eagles countered with the next point to once again tie the score, and they ended up scoring seven-straight points to build an 11-5 lead. Eastern extended its advantage out to 14-7, and the Eagles led 19-12 following an ace resulting in Bahen calling her second timeout of the set.
The Eastern lead grew to eight points at 21-13, however, the Red Knights battled back and closed to within 22-18. Toronto had the momentum, however, the Eagles regrouped and scored the next three point to win the set by seven points to take a 2-0 lead.
“We were not able to capitalize on the momentum when we had it,” Bahen said. “It was not great plays by them; it was self-inflicted. We made some silly mistakes I know our girls wish they had back.”
Eastern came out strong to start the third set as the Eagles built a 9-4 lead causing Bahen to call a timeout. Later, Bahen called her second timeout following Eastern’s third ace of the set as the Eagles led 15-8 at that point. The Red Knights kept fighting, however, the Eagles were just too much for them to handle as Eastern won the set by 12 points to sweep the match.
The loss to Eastern snapped Toronto’s 16-game winning streak. The loss capped off a memorable season for the Red Knights.
The Red Knights captured the OVAC Class 2A regular season and tournament titles this season. In the conference tournament, top-seeded Toronto defeated swept No. 4 seed Southern Local in the semifinals at home inside the George J. Kunzler Memorial Gymnasium before defeating No. 2 seed River in four sets in the tournament final down at ECO Center in St. Clairsville.
The Red Knights were also the No. 1 seed in the district tournament. Toronto opened the postseason by sweeping No. 9 seed Conotton Valley in a sectional co-final at home before also sweeping No. 3 seed Strasburg at home in the district semifinals. Then in the district final out at Carrollton, Toronto dropped the first set to No. 2 seed Tuscarawas Central Catholic, and the Red Knights trailed the Saints, 2-1, however, Toronto rallied and won the final two sets to win the district title.
“I think they realize everything they have accomplished this season,” Bahen said. “They may look back on this years later and it may mean something more to them. It is a memory they will have for the rest of their lives. I am blessed to have played a little part in this. When they lay their heads down at night, they will know they gave everything they had to Toronto volleyball.”
The match against Eastern was the final one for Toronto’s five seniors -- Josey Dickinson, Keiara Bailey, Reeves, Parello and Mitchell.
“They mean everything,” Bahen said about her seniors. “I came in as a 24-year-old coach when these girls were juniors, and they immediately bought in. They viewed last season as a building block for what they wanted to accomplish this season. They did everything the right way. They were the first to practice, and they were the last to leave. I just cannot say enough about these girls.”