For the second straight year, the Eden girls volleyball team traveled to Long Island and brought back a state title, defeating Section XI's John Glenn High School in four games -- 30-19, 24-30, 30-21, 30-26 -- before a loud, partisan crowd of over 300. Because Glenn was one of three Long Island teams that made the Sweet 16, each day of the tournament was energized with hundreds of rowdy, chanting fans. Sweet Home in Class B were the other two), but Eden was the only WNY This year, Section VI sent three representatives (Lancaster in Class A and team to survive the unparalleled pressure of a state final.
"There's nothing else like it in high school sports," explained Eden coach Stephen Pierce. "The stakes are incredibly high, and you are on center stage. In theory, everyone can say that, win or lose, it is so great just to reach that pinnacle. Still, you are not a true competitor if you came that far and don't want to desperately win it all." 

Last year, Eden did win it all for the second time in five years and in convincing fashion, not dropping a single game in 10 postseason matches. But that was with three two-time all-state seniors who had started since their sophomore year. This year's squad included two sophomores and one freshman starter and boasted only one senior. Still, they not only fought their way back to the state finals, but, for the second year in a row, they defeated the Class A and B state finalists in various matches and tournaments throughout the year. However, this was a year of parity as no team in any classification made it out of Friday's pool play without a loss. Eden finished the semifinal pool play with a 4-2 record, splitting with Glenn and Section IV's Lansing and narrowly escaping an opening game loss to Section IX's Westlake before rallying for a 32-30, 30-12 win.

 

"Our first match was a wake-up call. Westlake brought nearly half of its student body that was bent on intimidating our players with deafening chants, bleacher stomping, and (loud shouting)," said Pierce. "They were out for blood and refused to quiet down even when our players were at the line serving. After we escaped with the win, I pulled my team aside and said, 'Welcome to States.'"

 

The finals on Saturday showcased two perennial powerhouses. However, Glenn had never been to the state tournament because they played spring ball prior to this year, when their entire league moved its schedule to the fall. This year's squad was led by two powerful middle blockers: three-time all-league selection, Katie Barfuss, and freshman sensation, 5-11 Harmonie Callinda. In the opening game, Eden's solid blocking and quick defense led to 7-2 and 16-5 runs behind the strong serving of junior setter Mallory Kam and sophomore outside hitter Jenna Benkelman. In the second game, however, two consecutive service errors and early passing breakdowns put them in a 11-2 hole. Although they rallied to 21-22, two aces by Barfuss and consecutive kills by Callinda put the game out of reach. In the pivotal third game, Eden's main offensive weapon, junior outside hitter, Ashley DoEpp, began shredding the Knights' block, and, at 23-21, Benkelman ran off seven straight service points to give the Raiders a two games to one advantage. The game ended with freshman middle blocker Jodi Smith's straight down stuff block of Callinda.

 

The teams traded early leads in game four, but the Eden block began wearing down the Lady Knights with senior right side hitter, Emily Engle, recording four stuffs and sophomore middle, Rachel Cerne, adding two. Junior defensive specialist Kasey Barrett sliced up Glenn for eight points on serve, and key digs by DoEpp and junior defensive specialists Karie Zugger and Leah Falkowski frustrated the Glenn hitters. With Eden clinging to a 27-26 lead, Cerne served three straight aces to give Eden its third state title. DoEpp finished the match with 24 kills, followed by Benkelman with 12 and Cerne with 7. Kam recorded 46 assists.

 

"This is such an incredible accomplishment for these girls. It is so difficult to repeat," noted Pierce. "You have to retool after graduation losses, everyone is gunning for you, and so many little things can go wrong. But these girls know how to win, and they came together to form a great team, a championship team."