Heritage High School won just the second sectional title in the past 43 years in girls’ volleyball Saturday with a nail-biting, suspenseful, five-set match against host Norwell, keeping the high school volleyball season alive in Z-Land after Bellmont’s long streak was ended in the afternoon. South Adams was eliminated minutes after Heritage won when they lost to Woodlan in another five-set thriller.
Since winning back-to-back sectionals way back in 1980 and 1981, the Patriots have won just one IHSAA trophy, taking the sectional back in 2006. Now they have another for the collection.
The Bellmont Braves were unable to take a regular season win over Homestead and turn it into a sectional trophy, losing a match in a sectional for the first time since October 2004.
South Adams passed a major test by knocking off Adams Central on Thursday, then took out Whitko Saturday afternoon, but it was ultimately the host Warriors, who won it in five sets. Woodlan had just two sectional titles in school history and had not won since 2013.
3A Sectional at Norwell
Semifinal: Norwell 3 New Haven 0 (25-18, 25-13, 25-8)
Semifinal: Heritage 3 Marion 0 (25-5, 25-22, 25-9)
Final: Heritage 3 Norwell 2 (25-23, 25-23, 20-25, 16-25, 15-12)
Heritage looked well on their way to claiming the title until Norwell came storming back to win sets #3 and #4. The Knights then pushed Heritage to the bring in the middle of the fifth set, but coach Shelly Schwartz’s team produced a memorable comeback to capture the title.
The Patriots are ranked 45th in class 3A and their opponent Saturday for the regional will be #11 New Castle. That match can be heard live on WZBD, 92.7 FM at 4 p.m.
4A Sectional at South Side
2A Sectional at Woodlan
Semifinal: Woodlan 3 Blackhawk Christian 0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-17)
Semifinal: South Adams 3 Whitko 0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-17)
Final: Woodlan 3 South Adams 2 (25-12, 25-23, 10-25, 23-25, 15-11)
Reagan Bollenbacher led the Stars in kills in the semifinals with nine, while Avery Brown had seven.
In the final, Bollenbacher had 21 kills and 21 digs. Avery Brown added 15 kills and three blocks.
The Stars ended the season with a 27-6 record.
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