Columbus East High School

Host Olympians survive three match points in the fifth set to secure their first sectional championship since 2022. The Orange Pit - The Columbus East girls volleyball team saved its finest performance of the season for when everything was on the line Saturday night in the Orange Pit at Columbus East High School. Entering the IHSAA Sectional #14 tournament without the favorite tag, the host Olympians pulled off their biggest victory of the year by outlasting the Franklin Community Grizzly Cubs in a five-set championship thriller (27-25, 15-25, 25-23, 19-25, 17-15) to capture their first sectional championship since 2022. Franklin entered Saturday evening as the clear favorite on paper, carrying a 17-13 record and plenty of momentum after sweeping Columbus North in straight sets during the afternoon semifinal round. The Grizzly Cubs had also swept East in straight sets back in the season opener. Columbus East entered the title clash with a 14-16 record, but steady development across every facet of the game paid off at the right time. Sharp service reception, dependable passing to the setters, balanced attacking, back-row defense, and an improved presence at the net gave East the upper hand when points mattered most. The Olympians earned their spot in the final with a strong performance during the morning semifinal round, defeating East Central in straight sets, 27-25, 25-15, 25-21. Addy Dean powered that win with 18 kills and four blocks, while setter Jillian Chapple directed the offense with 17 assists. Bailey Rohde controlled the net with six kills and five blocks, while Riley Hawley added two blocks to secure the sweep and push East into the title match. The championship contest developed into a hard-fought battle from the opening serve. East edged Franklin in a tight opening set, 27-25, before the Grizzly Cubs responded with a 25-15 win in the second. The Olympians answered by securing the third set 25-23, but Franklin forced a decisive fifth set by claiming the fourth, 25-19. East received balanced contributions across the lineup to keep pace. Chapple and Kenlee Gault shared setting duties effectively, distributing 20 assists each. Dean led the offensive charge with a match-high 21 kills while collecting 12 digs. Ava Tartt delivered an all-around effort with nine kills, 14 digs, and two aces. Rohde posted four kills and four blocks, Emma Armstrong chipped in four kills and one block, and Cadence Smith and Hawley each recorded a block. In the back row, Kadence Miller stabilized the defense with a team-high 21 digs and served three aces. The match came down to a tense fifth set where East fell behind early, trailing 12-7 and then 13-8 as Franklin stood two points away from the title. Instead of folding under pressure, East mounted a clutch comeback. Following a sideout, Tartt served an ace, Dean put down a kill, and Tartt delivered another ace to trim the deficit to 13-12. Franklin earned a sideout to set up two match points at 14-12, but East held steady to tie the score at 14-14. Franklin gained another match point at 15-14, but Dean placed a soft dink kill over the block to tie the score once more. Gault then took over at the service line and drilled back-to-back aces to clinch the 17-15 victory. The final point prompted an emotional celebration on the home floor, complete with happy tears and laughter. The Olympians gathered together with their new championship trophy for a team photo to remember the milestone win. Columbus East now advances to the IHSAA Regional round to take on the 28-2 Bloomington South Panthers, who swept Terre Haute South in three sets to win their sectional. The regional match will be played on Saturday, October 24th, at Bloomington North High School, with first serve scheduled for 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at [https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=214335](https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=214335).