Girls district volleyball: Brunswick falls to Perrysburg

PARMA — For the second season in a row, the Brunswick volleyball team ended with a district runner-up trophy.The ninth-seeded Blue Devils showed fight early but were unable to keep the momentum in a 25-17, 25-10, 25-10 loss to second-seeded Perrysburg in the Division I, Northeast 1 District final at Normandy on Thursday.The Panthers earned their fifth consecutive district championship, which includes a regional title in 2022. Perrysburg moved into the Northeast District this season."We gave it our all," said senior Emerson Sheets, who had team highs with 18 digs and 10 assists. "We really tried. (Perrysburg is) a great team with really great players. It's really disappointing to be leaving the volleyball community here, but we tried our best all season. That's all you can ask for."The Panthers (19-5) advanced to face top-seeded Mentor (19-5) in a Region 1 semifinal at Barberton on Wednesday. The Cardinals defeated seventh-seeded Medina (12-11) 25-11, 25-15, 29-27 in the second final at Normandy.The loss was tough to take for the Blue Devils, who came out with plenty of energy but were worn down by the power of Katie Pahl and Mia Brandeberry over the final two sets."It's upsetting," junior Madison Miller said. "I had a rough season myself. I got hurt at the beginning of the year and it took me awhile to get back to where I am. I'm finally playing good the past few games. I'm sad that it's over now."Miller, who had eight kills and two blocks, battled hamstring and ankle injuries, missing more than three weeks early in the season before rounding into form during Brunswick's tournament run.Ashlie Lieb had 17 digs and Addison Compton had four kills for the Blue Devils.With Sheets serving, Miller opened the first set with a block for the first point of the match. That led to Brunswick taking a 6-5 lead. The Blue Devils were still in it with a kill by Compton that cut the deficit to 17-15."We got so jacked up in the beginning," Miller said. "I think we expended all of our energy in the first set."Led by Brandeberry, the Panthers, who entered the match ranked sixth in the state by the Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association, scored the final five points of the first set.That momentum carried into the second set, with the Panthers scoring the first six points. Following a kill by Miller that made the score 6-1, Brunswick never got back within six points for the rest of the set."Our passing was on and our hitting was on (in the first game)," Sheets said. "Both of them were on that set. Everyone had energy. In the other sets, one thing was on and one thing was off. That really brought us down in those sets."The Blue Devils fell behind again early in the final set. After trailing 15-5, Brunswick was unable to cut Perrysburg's lead to fewer than 10 points.The loss brought an end to the careers of Sheets, Lieb, Lexi Must and Nicole Jurkiewicz. The Blue Devils return starters in Miller, Compton, Kacie Belz and Lauren Schuett."I'm definitely going to take away to never give up," Sheets said. "I came in as a freshman and didn't really know where I was going to stand. This season for me has been a great season. It really taught me to never give up on yourself, no matter where life puts you."Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.