Rangers round up title vs. Dragons Greely ends 3-year Woodland run

MACHIAS – Woodland High School’s three-year reign as state volleyball champion ended Saturday night as top-seeded Greely of Cumberland Center defeated the Dragons in straight sets in the championship match at the University of Maine- Machias.

Undefeated Greely (16-0) survived a close first set, winning 25-22, and then swept through the final two sets 25-9 and 25-12 to claim the school’s first state volleyball crown.

The Rangers’ victory avenged a loss to Woodland in last year’s state final, when the Dragons’ rallied from a 2-1 deficit in sets for a five-set victory.

Woodland, the No. 2 seed, had advanced to the championship match with an emotional, four-set semifinal victory over third-seeded Gorham (12-3) earlier in the day. That win, by scores of 25-17, 25-22, 27-29 and 26-24, avenged a regular-season loss to the Rams that ended Woodland’s 62-match winning streak.

“It took everything out of us,” said Woodland coach Rich Nutter of the semifinal match. “I know just coaching that I was completely drained before the final match. It was when we lost a very close first set against Greely, there was no gas left in the tank.”

Woodland (16-2) was led to its semifinal victory by senior Phylicia Seavey (19 of 21 serving, five aces), senior Kelsy Snowman (18 of 20 serving, 11 assists), sophomore Michelle Ferry (seven kills, one block), freshman Gina Sears (24 of 25 serving), and junior Kayla Kochendoerfer (eight kills, two blocks).

In the championship match, the Dragons were led by Snowman (8 of 10 serving, three assists), Ferry (three kills) Kochendoerfer (three kills) and senior Megan Lord (6 of 7 serving, three digs).

“Greely played well,” said Nutter. “They’re tall, athletic, and they had a great season.”

Woodland will graduate four seniors off this year’s team. Seavey, Snowman, Lord and Kallie White finished their high school careers with a record of 62-2.

Greely reached the championship round with a four-set semifinal victory over No. 4 Mount Desert Island. MDI (13-3) won the opening set 26-24 before Greely rallied to win the next three sets 25-16, 25-7, 25-12.

MDI was led individually by senior Ashley Cough (one ace, seven kills, one assist, 15 digs and two blocks), senior Rachel Russell (one ace, 12 kills, three digs, four blocks), sophomore Robin Dilley (two kills, six assists, two digs and one block) and sophomore Brianne Records (one ace, two kills, two assists, four digs and two blocks).