GMAC championship game ends in a 5-set loss to Ohio Dominican

By Danielle Cherry 

The final game stood before the Jackets as fans packed out the gymnasium. The back-and-forth match sent everyone’s hearts pounding into their throats. The well-fought battle went to five sets, with Ohio Dominican coming out on top 15-10 in the final set to bring them the GMAC title. 

Cedarville and Ohio Dominican were tied 1-1 in regular-season games, making the game not only the championship but a test to see which team was truly worthy of victory. 

As the match began, nerves got the better of the Jackets, as the Panthers’ tough swings caused Cedarville to make mistakes, fumbling the ball and causing panic on the court. The early lead sent Cedarville spiraling, forcing them to work overtime to close the gap. 

In the midst of this, Madelyn Hensley came out swinging an all-time game high, with 23 total kills. When the team was down, Hensley was quick to bring the score back up. From her unwavering hits, the team tied the Panthers in hitting .378, with the first set ending in Ohio Dominican’s favor, 25-23.

The loss in the first set made the Jackets lose confidence as they entered the second set. Ohio Dominican used this to their advantage, aiming hits at open areas, causing the Jackets to shank passes. The set ended in a brutal 25-12 difference, leaving Cedarville concerned for the rest of the match. 

“I am proud of the team and how we fought back,” said head coach Greg Smith. “We got beat pretty badly in the second set. We could have easily gotten beaten at three, but it just shows the heart and courage of our team to fight back after being down that bad.”

The Panthers walked out with confidence at the half, sure they would steal the victory in three easy sets. But the Jackets came out with a new resolve and a desire to fight not only for the victory but for each other.

“The whole group was [saying] stay positive, change the body language, compete for each other,” Smith said. “It was just one of those things where we just still have a lot of belief.” 

The energy shifted as Coach Smith entered two freshman players in the third set. At first, Carley Craighead, a middle hitter, and Megan Johnson, a defense specialist, came out hesitant. But the warmth of the on-court team made the transition smooth. The switch-up only aided the Jackets in their lead, throwing off the Panthers as new skills were introduced on the court. 

Rallies lasted for minutes, but the Jackets never tired, resiliently diving after stray balls and playing through passes that went into the net, saving impossible-looking hits. With this came a switch-up in play speed, as hitters chose to set rather than kill, confusing the Panthers. 

“Even the third set was back-and-forth the whole time, and we got a couple of point runs,” Smith said. 

In the midst of fluctuating scores, the middles presented a tough block defense, sending balls careening to the floor with an impressive nine killer blocks to the Panthers’ two. Janae Heegaard had her work cut out for her, darting back and forth along the net, stopping four balls from reaching Cedarville’s courts all in one rally. 

As Cedarville took set three, 25-20, the student section could not stop cheering. For the rest of the game, they stood up, showing their unwavering support for the Jackets, taunting the Panthers with every chance they got. 

Throughout the season, the Jackets have emphasized tenacity and communication; this game was the culmination of everything they have worked towards. Fighting back and forth, the Jackets held on, winning the fourth set 25-21. Their grit in the face of hard hits and tough serves sent the Jackets in for their final set. 

“We ended up getting a two-point lead, but two-point leads it’s not safe,” Smith said.

In the fifth set, everything the Jackets had practiced for came down to this last moment on the court. As the crowd yelled, time slowed as Ohio Dominican raked up six points in the beginning, leaving Cedarville to claw its way back out. 

Every moment on the court showcased each Jacket’s unique skill set: Haley Matney’s soaring sets, Heegaard’s killer slides and Craighead’s impressive serving. Unfortunately, Ohio Dominican’s early lead ultimately led to the Jackets’ downfall, with the Panthers taking the last set 15-10. 

While the championship game didn’t turn out the way they wanted, this year’s team made history, bringing the championship game back to Cedarville, now owning the second-place name. 

“I absolutely love this season, I love the turnaround that we had from last year to this year, I think it was a 10-match difference,” Smith said. 

While disappointed, the Jackets left the court with strong faces, sharing what is the most important part of Cedarville volleyball: their faith. Jackets and Panthers gathered in unity to celebrate the One who gives them all the ability to play. Far into the awards ceremony, Jackets continued to pray with Panthers. 

As the season came to an unfortunate close, the outcome was not what the Jackets wanted. Yet as Ohio Dominican cheered their victory, Cedarville players continued to smile, knowing their worth is not found in the outcome of this championship game, but in Christ, ultimately demonstrating what true volleyball is all about. 

Danielle Cherry is a sophomore communication major and writer for Cedars A&E and Sports. She is a Missionary Kid from Germany and loves to travel and play volleyball.