Brock Netter, Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by Holzer Health System.
LOGAN — In a year of firsts, there was still more for Gallia Academy to accomplish.
And now, the Blue Angels are two games away from the ultimate prize.
With a trip to the Final 4 up for grabs, they kept their foot on the gas and never let up, claiming a straight-set victory over Wheelersburg — a 25-16, 25-13, 25-15 final — in a Division IV regional final on Saturday.
It marks the program’s first regional title in school history.
“I feel like this is what we’ve been working towards,” Gallia Academy coach Ashton Webb said. “I told them during the first timeout that this is what a state championship team looks like. I was so proud of them for wearing their emotions on their sleeves and playing with their hearts. That’s what we’ve been pushing for all year. We want to delve deep into our emotions and let them play out.”
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
Out of the gates, it was clear that Gallia Academy (26-0) came prepared for a business trip.
Tied early in the first set at 5-5, the Blue Angels began to showcase why they’ve been at the head of the class in Southeast Ohio. Two kills each from Piper Pugh and Abby Clark, alongside another from Aspen Barnes, sparked a 7-1 run to make it 12-6.
Wheelersburg (22-4) cut the deficit to 14-10, following a kill and an ace from Lainey Skeenes, but that was the closest the Pirates would get.
Pugh fired back with two kills and an ace, later followed by a kill from Aubree Frazier and a block from Clark, extending the advantage to 20-12 before Gallia closed out the victory.
Pugh served up an ace, Frazier and Rylee Saunders had a kill each, and Clark added a block to take an early 6-2 lead in the second.
Given that Wheelersburg took a set from the Blue Angels earlier this season, they understood how dangerous and scrappy the Pirates could be.
They made sure to limit any unforced errors as they continued to swing away.
“We made a lot of errors in that match,” Webb said. “It was at Wheelersburg, it was a high-intensity environment and we knew they were going to really put that on us again. We tried to play like we were the underdog and tried to prove something to them since they took a set from us. We really did that tonight.”
With a lead in the second, Pugh began to take over the match.
Leading 12-8, she went on a six-kill tear, alongside an ace from Gracyn Clark, a kill from Chloe Bennett, and a block from Saunders, charging a 9-1 run and taking a 21-9 lead before coasting to the end.
“She’s just a skilled player,” Webb said of Pugh. “Her head is literally above the antenna when she’s hitting and her arm is at the top of that. You cannot beat skill like that. But what I’m also proud of her for is also diving deep into those emotions. She used to be a really reserved player. Now, we’re seeing her wear those emotions on her sleeve, and her team is following her lead.”
The Pirates had some fight left in them, using the aforementioned scrappiness to take an early 4-3 lead before battling to tie the third set at 9-9.
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
However, the Blue Angels went on a 6-0 run behind Gracyn Clark, Pugh and Barnes to go ahead 15-9 and began to taste that regional title.
Pugh added three kills as the lead grew to 18-11, and as large as 21-12, before a final kill from Abby Clark sealed the deal, punching the Blue Angels’ ticket to the Final 4.
“We talked about coming out hot in warm-ups and that’s exactly what they did,” Webb said. “Even if you don’t have the energy, you have to fake it until you make it. I feel like our girls really knew the game plan and they executed it. They were ready to go.”
As Wheelersburg’s season comes to a close — an incredible season in its own right — Gallia Academy advances to a Division IV state semifinal at 4 p.m., Thursday at Wright State University’s Nutter Center.
The Blue Angels will meet with Bishop Fenwick, who defeated Cleves Taylor in straight sets to advance.
“It’s amazing,” Webb said. “We’ve been working on this since December and we’ve been talking about this since December. It took a lot of belief from these girls and a huge buy-in. I’m so excited for them, in general.”
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