A freshman server and senior leadership helped give the Washington Academy Raiders a five-set victory over the Calais Blue Devils in the Class B state volleyball championship Saturday at Mount Desert Island High School in Bar Harbor.
The two teams split during the regular season, with each winning on their home courts, and it was another tight match in the state final where the Raiders of East Machias prevailed 25-23, 25-17, 18-25, 16-25, 15-6. Freshman Brecken Barker was WA’s starting server for the final match.
“She served 14 points. It was really remarkable that a freshman did so in a state championship game,” said first-year coach Corey Schwinn, who guided the Raiders with assistant coach Travis Oakes.
“She was solid in getting the ball in before we had a side out,” said Schwinn, adding that Barker had four aces in the final set.
The Raiders were also sparked during the match by captain Emily Lobley, Kalyn Otto and Danielle Bragg, all seniors. Schwinn said Lobley was the team’s vocal leader on the floor and a setter while Otto, a libero, “did a fantastic job” and was all over the court. The Raiders also benefited from strong play by senior middle hitter, Danielle Bragg, he added.
Schwinn said he was a bit concerned with the 2-2 tie because the Raiders don’t play as well when the set goes to 15 points.
They were sparked, however, by Barker and “really got into our rhythm that we had in the first two sets,” Schwinn added.
In the third and fourth sets, the Blue Devils battled back behind senior outside hitter Kelly Delaney.
“She really got hot in the third and fourth sets and that made some challenges for us,” Schwinn said.
The Raiders responded in the fifth set.
“The character and drive our team has stands out,” Schwinn said.
Both teams played in a great environment at MDI, Schwinn added, with good supportive casts on both sides.
“It was just a great way to finish the season,” he said.
The third-seeded Raiders and the No. 1 Blue Devils each finished with 13-4 records.
The Class A state champ was also crowned on Saturday when No. 5 Scarborough beat No. 2 Greely of Cumberland in four sets at South Portland High School.
