Avon Eagles Triumph Over Wadsworth in Five-Set Regional Final

In a thrilling encounter, the Avon Eagles clinched their second consecutive Division II regional title by defeating the Wadsworth Grizzlies in a tightly contested five-set match on November 1, 2023. The final scores were 25-14, 22-25, 25-22, 23-25, and 15-11, showcasing the resilience and skill of both teams. With this victory, Avon improved to a remarkable 25-1 record and will advance to face Magnificat in the Division II state semifinal on November 8 at 18:30 at Wittenberg University.

Avon’s head coach, Kara Coffman, expressed her satisfaction with the match’s intensity, stating, “It feels great. I was really glad that it was a battle and really tough. It makes it more fulfilling to reclaim that regional title.”

The match began with Avon establishing an early lead, taking the first set convincingly at 25-14. This strong performance, however, was not indicative of the challenge that lay ahead. Wadsworth quickly responded in the second set, surging to a 9-2 lead and ultimately winning 25-22. Avon senior Londyn Stone noted, “We said the first set is how we’re going to set the tone. We were on the pushing back side of things. It was a fight from there.”

Set three was fiercely competitive, with Avon edging out Wadsworth 25-22. The back-and-forth continued as Wadsworth fought back to win the fourth set 25-23, forcing a decisive fifth set. Avon seemed unfazed by the pressure, leveraging their experience in high-stakes situations. Senior Lily Hamilton remarked, “We have a lot of experience in adversity and going five sets. We did it before against Olmsted Falls.”

In the final set, Avon quickly established a 4-1 lead, aided by a block and a kill from Bethany Sherwood. Wadsworth managed to tie the score at 4-4, but Avon regained momentum with a crucial kill from Stone. The Eagles’ strong fundamentals, particularly in serving, proved pivotal; Avon recorded 10 aces while Wadsworth struggled with double-digit serving errors.

With the score at 10-9 in favor of Avon, the Eagles capitalized on Wadsworth’s mistakes, ultimately securing victory with Stone’s final kill. “When we were on that court today, we were like, ‘We’re not ending on this’. We are not ending our season today,” said Stone, highlighting the determination and unity of the team.

Stone led Avon with a remarkable 21 kills, while Hamilton contributed 20, and Sherwood added 17. Wadsworth’s standout performer was Lauren Decker, who recorded a match-high 29 kills.

Coffman praised Wadsworth’s performance, acknowledging their strong outside hitter, Decker, and noted Avon’s depth in talent. “For us, I feel like we always have at least one big hitter in the front row. Our depth is so amazing; it doesn’t really matter what rotation we’re in,” she explained.

As the Eagles prepare for their upcoming semifinal against Magnificat, their focus will remain on leveraging their experience and maintaining their winning momentum. The matchup promises to be another exciting chapter in Avon’s impressive season.