ATHENS – To reach the district finals is an accomplishment in itself, two local volleyball squads, Valley and Wheelersburg, attained that goal this 2009 season. The SOC II champion Lady Indians ended their playoff run Saturday as district runner-ups to the defending state champions of Albany Alexander. The match was decided in three sets, 25-16, 25-21 and 25-13.

The Lady Pirates were victorious over North Adams to earn the school's first-ever volleyball district championship. With set scores of 25-15, 25-8 and 25-20, Wheelersburg advanced to the Division III Regionals for a showdown with the Lady Spartans of Alexander.

With tears in her eyes, players and fans alike congratulated her with hugs. Wheelersburg coach Carol Bialkowski explained the emotional win.

"It feels unbelieveable," Bailkowski said. "We have knocked on the door so many times. It feels so special for me for this group to have it, and for these seniors who have worked so hard. "

Senior outside hitter Logan Barrick echoed her coach's comments.

"It is a great feeling, to come out here and perform to the best of your ability and win," Barrick said.

Though the match was won in the least amount of sets necessary, North Adams contested Wheelersburg at the net, both teams showing off their offensive firepower.

The deciding factor for the Lady Pirates was their defense, as the squad racked up 31 digs and eight blocks. Those digs, of course, were the passes that led to sets and kills.

"I thought our floor game, our passing, was tremendous," Bialkowski said. "It was so wonderful for our seniors to step up, perform and lead this team to a victory. Great team effort, that's really all you can say."

Outstanding performances at the net came from Barrick, fellow senior Megan Bernthold as well as junior Carly Miller. Seven kills smacked off the right hand of Barrick to go along with her game-high 21 points. Miller led the team with 11 spike kills and four blocks. Bernthold racked up nine kills and made three blocks in the match.

When asked about the first-ever title for her school, Bernthold had this to say.

"It is a great honor to be the first team in our school's history to ever make it to regionals," Bernthold said. "I'm just proud of the girls and proud of our coaches."

The first two sets were easily controlled by the Lady Pirates as they allowed just 23 points from their opponent in those games. Assists by Kalyn Bailey, who set up 27 point-earning kills in all, forced the Lady Devils back on their heels defensively.

The third set was more competitive then any. It featured ties or one-point leads throughout the first 10 points of the set. In fact, 11 consecutive sideouts were forced as neither team held serve during points three through ten.

Finally, the intense volleying subsided when Carly Miller won the serve for 'Burg with a spike kill and sent her teammate to the stripe. Barrick reeled off six straight points to end the serving drought and the Pirate lead was 16-10.

The rest, as they say, is history. The last point was a Bailey set to Barrick on the outside, who found the court with a spike down the line.

Wheelersburg travels to Logan High School on Tuesday to face the squad who ended Valley's year, Alexander.

A seventh-straight district final was attained by the Lady Spartans when they defeated Valley in Saturday's second game.

The SOC II champion Lady Indians drew an unfortunate match up as they returned to the district finals for the second year. Although a title was on the minds and hearts of the Valley faithful, they had to settle for runner-up.

Alexander took the match in three sets, which should be no surprise as the school as not dropped a set to any team in tournament play since the 2007 state playoffs.

Valley kept things close, especially in set two, as the Lady Indians were led by senior Jordan Arbaugh. The outside hitter collected six kills in set two alone while she totaled 13 for the match. Arbaugh had another team-high as well, five points from serve.

Fellow senior Megan Spriggs tallied seven kills and six digs to close out her volleyball career in purple and gold.

"I hate to see (the seniors) go out on a loss like this," Valley coach Megan Artrip said. "They are wonderful girls and have had two stellar careers. I just hope they know how much they've meant to this team and me."

The Lady Indians finish their sectional championship season with 20 wins and only thee losses. With returning players like setter Lauren Dunn and hitters Lauren Wolford and Shelby Ellis, Valley hopes to learn from its tournament experience.

"Two years in a row we've made it to the district finals and that is something we'll build on for the years to come," Artrip said.

Record – Wheelersburg 22-3; Valley 20-3