photo by: Andrew Grimm

Harrison Central's Annmarie Corder goes up to connect on a kill attempt past Carrollton's Joy Bartlow during Tuesday's OHSAA Division IV, East 1 District sectional match in Cadiz.

CADIZ – The Huskies just simply ran out of comebacks.

Harrison Central battled back from an 0-2 hole to force a fifth set, and in the process battled back from a seven point deficit in the fourth – starring down and fending off two match points in the process to even the match – but another big deficit early in the decisive fifth set finally proved to be too much to overcome.

After seeing the early match lead and chances to close things out dissipate, visiting Carrollton opened a 9-3 lead in the fifth and this time were able to close things out, winning the set 15-9 and the match, 3-2, to advance in the Division IV, East 1 District tournament Tuesday evening in Cadiz.

“We fought to the end,” Harrison Central head coach Grace Godich said. “The first two sets, we were just too relaxed … it just felt like we weren’t awake yet. In the third set, we came around. We worked hard in the third and fourth set. The fifth set was a tough one. I told the girls we fought to get to the fifth set, we’ve got to fight to win it. We just didn’t have another come back.

“I’m not disappointed in them, they gave it their best and that’s what I ask of them.”

The No. 10 seed Warriors (10-13) won the first two sets, 25-20 and 25-19, before the sixth-seeded Huskies (12-10) rallied back.

Harrison Central opened a 6-1 lead in the third looking to stay alive, only to see Carrollton come back to tie it multiple times and even take a 14-13 lead. The Huskies, though, weren’t ready to go away pushed back ahead by three. After the Warriors tied the set at 21-21, the Huskies scored the final four points to extend the match.

The fourth set was a classic neither side will soon forget.

After the Huskies again had led early, the Warriors went on a 7-0 run to lead 22-15. Facing elimination, the Huskies rattled off a 9-1 run to take a 24-23 lead. The set was tied at 24, 25 and 26, with Carrollton having two chances to finish it, but the Huskies ultimately scored three-straight to take the set 28-26 and force a fifth.

“That fourth set was incredible, it was a classic volleyball game,” Godich said. “I didn’t think it was ever going to end, that’s what you want to see in tournament time is battles like that. I thought it was going into the 30s.”

The Warriors, though, allowed no such rally after taking the early lead this time.

The loss closes what was a successful first season for Godich, a Catholic Central product, as the Huskies reached double digit wins for the first time since 2019 and made last week’s OVAC tournament for the first time since 2017.

They depart six seniors in Annmarie Corder, Taylor Nemeth, Kennedy Dunlap, Lauren Doane, Madison Zeroski and Olivia Tonkovich.

The Huskies were led by

“It was a good season,” Godich said. “I was blessed to have this team for my first season here.”

Carrollton advances to travel to No. 3 Beaver Local, a four-set winner over No. 14 Philo, next Tuesday.