Photo by Brian Dulik

Gates Mills Gilmour coach Kelly Coughlin, Maria Cup, Maddie Kosar and Carolyn Curran (left to right) address the media following their four-game loss to Casstown Miami East in the OHSAA state Division III championship match.

FAIRBORN, Ohio -- One day after Walsh Jesuit’s volleyball team was defeated in the OHSAA state semifinals, Northeast Ohio’s other qualifier came up short in its championship quest.

Gates Mills Gilmour Academy -- coached by Brunswick resident and Brunswick High graduate Martin Kelly Coughlin -- dropped a 26-24, 17-25, 25-23, 25-21 decision to Casstown Miami East in the Division III championship match Saturday.

It was the Lancers’ second straight loss in the state final and the fourth time they have advanced to Wright State in five years. They are still seeking their initial OHSAA tournament title.

+++ DIVISION III STATE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH BOX SCORE IS BELOW +++

“I have a new appreciation for Coach (Marv) Levy of the Buffalo Bills for what he went through,” Coughlin quipped, referring to Buffalo’s four consecutive Super Bowl losses in the 1990s. “It never gets old. Losing down here is something I love to do.

“But seriously, we got beat by a better team today -- and I want everyone to know that I’m very proud of what our girls accomplished.”

The Lancers (26-3) were credited with an incredible 115 digs, while the state champion Vikings (29-1) logged 94 in a match that featured 394 attacks and 111 kills.

Gilmour Academy’s three losses on the year came at the hands of Walsh Jesuit, Cleveland St. Joseph Academy, and Miami East. It beat Columbus Bishop Ready in the state semifinals two days earlier.

“There is something to be said about playing all the way down to the last day of the season, like we’ve been fortunate to do the last two years,” said Coughlin, who also coached the girls and boys volleyball teams at his alma mater. “Your fate is in your hands, you control it.

“It makes the last practice, the last team meeting, the last time you leave the locker room to go onto the court very meaningful and special.”

OHSAA Tournament – Division III state championship

Casstown Miami East 26-17-25-25, Gates Mills Gilmour Academy 24-25-23-21

Miami East (kills, assists, digs): Kelsey Vanchure 5-0-0, Angie Mack 3-1-10, Ashley Current 2-0-0, Samantha Cash 18-21-12, Abby Cash 11-28-20, Leah Dunivan 14-0-3, Allie Millhouse 0-0-14, Allison Morrett 0-2-34, Trina Current 4-0-1. TEAM: 57-52-94.

Gilmour (kills, assists, digs): Megan Diemer 4-0-6, Nicole Brzozowski 0-0-5, Maddie Kosar 17-6-29, Maria Cup 10-0-2, Megan Polak 0-45-19, Jessica Janota 19-0-2, Josie Sheehan 4-0-24, Alex Walters 0-1-9, Carolyn Curran 0-0-19, Patricia Colella 0-0-0, Sam Baldini 0-0-0. TEAM: 54-52-115.

Match leaders

Kills: Janota (G) 19, S.Cash (M) 18, Kosar (M) 17, Dunivan (M) 14.

Assists: Polak (G) 45, A.Cash (M) 28, S.Cash (M) 21, Kosar (G) 6.

Errors: Janota (G) 11, Dunivan (M) 10, A.Cash (M) 5, Diemer (G) 5.

Digs: Morrett (M) 34, Kosar (G) 29, Sheehan (G) 24, A.Cash (C) 20.

Aces: A.Cash (M) 5, Millhouse (M) 1, Walters (G) 1.