Carson Francis, Contributor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
WAVERLY — Moving up a division can be challenging for a lot of teams. Most have a hard time transitioning and may struggle to find the success they once had in a lower division.
‘CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
After winning three straight district titles in Division IV, and earning a trip to the Final Four last season, South Webster made the transition to Division III.
And for the Jeeps, absolutely nothing changed.
They wasted no time making their mark on Saturday and displayed superiority, sweeping North Adams by a 25-22, 25-18, 25-19 final to clinch a fourth-straight district crown.
“I’m super proud of them and what they’ve been able to do in a different division. Another year, different division, same outcome,” South Webster coach Darcee Claxon said. “I’m just really proud of the girls and what they were able to accomplish.”
The match started off with a game of runs. Five consecutive points from North Adams’ Katelynn Boerger tied the opening set at 16-16 and forced a South Webster timeout. Both teams went back and forth before the Jeeps pulled away and took the set after Mia Crum came up with the set-clinching kill.
“I think always after every point, we have to talk to each other,” South Webster’s Addison Claxon said. “Making sure that everyone stays up and not really getting into their own head really helps us stay together as a team.”
The second set began with a celebration.
Deadlocked 4-4 early, South Webster (23-2) broke the tie after junior and District Player of the Year Bella Claxon recorded her 2,000th career assist to put her team ahead.
“My team and I have been working all season, just working with connection between me and my hitters, and I wouldn’t have been able to do anything without them,” Bella Claxon said.
Claxon’s milestone only gave her team more momentum.
Despite efforts from North Adams (17-8) to fight back, the Jeeps ran away with the second set and never trailed. Natalie Adkins’ kill put a cap on the win as South Webster inched closer to another district title.
“I knew we were going to do the things we do well because we’ve done them time and time again,” Darcee Claxon said. “I trusted that our kids were going to do what they’ve done all year long.”
After jumping out to a 16-11 lead to start the set, South Webstwer kept its foot on the gas.
After holding off a late Devil rally, the Jeeps clutched up in the end with Natalie Adkins dropping the game-sealing kill to bring home the district crown.
“We know that we’re usually the smaller team on the other side of the net, so we have our game plan, and we want to do our best at executing,” Bella Claxon said.
South Webster goes to the Sweet 16 for the fourth year in a row and will face Byesville Meadowbrook at 6 p.m., Thursday at Logan High School.
“We know we’ve got a tough competitor in Meadowbrook, they are senior heavy, they were D-II last year, so I feel like we’re up against Goliath. But I know what happened to Goliath,” Darcee Claxon said. “I’m excited for the competition. Whatever happens this Thursday is going to happen, but I’m just excited that they have this opportunity to compete again.”
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