The five seniors on Tipp’s title-winning volleyball team… (l to r) Kaylee Armstrong, Morgan Sessions, Courtney Post, Savannah Clawson, and Brianna Morris, with head coach Howard Garcia. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
After more than a decade of commitment by the same coach, and a building process fraught with setbacks and frustrations, it took this team to finally break through with the right combination of competitiveness and support for each other. It resulted in the first-ever state volleyball title in Tipp City.
It really wasn’t hard, nor did we have to look far amongst a number of candidates this week to determine ‘Who’s Hot’ recognition on Press Pros.
That distinction, without much discussion, must go to the volleyball team at Tippecanoe High School, who stunned the OHSAA volleyball community this weekend by defeating Akron Hoban in the Division III semi-final round, and then Bloom-Carroll in Saturday’s OHSAA state final to capture Tipp’s first-ever title in the sport.
Kudos to coach Howard Garcia, to seniors Savannah Clawson, Brianna Morris, Kaylee Armstrong, Morgan Sessions and Courtney Post, and a supporting cast that was largely overlooked throughout their perfect 29-0 season over questions of competitive strength of schedule; and for the embarrassing habit of media to always look to the larger, urban centers of the state because…bigger is better. Because where there’s an advantage in size of community, proportionately there also has to be an advantage for the size of the dog in the fight – not the size of the fight in the dog. Right?
“I’m proud because we’re a smaller public school. And I know that people expected us to get our butts kicked.” – Savannah Clawson (above)
“I’m proud,” said Savannah Clawson, following their semi-final win over Hoban on Friday, a straight-set crushing of the state’s #1-ranked team that left no doubt about the size of the fight in the dog.
“I’m proud because we’re a smaller public school. And today I know that people expected us to get our butts kicked. So it was even cooler when we kicked theirs.”
And frankly, as a journalist I’m proud…that adolescent athletes like Clawson are still willing to talk in terms of competing, winning, and in the best of respectful connotation…kicking a few butts.
Because, a lot of what you heard from teams at this weekend’s state volleyball tournament was a much softer message of love and mutual respect for each other. Yep, there’s a lotta’ love tossed about now in modern conversation because that’s what culture has come to demand. And the Tipp girls were no different, making it a point to tell reporters on Saturday that love for each other was a huge component of their success. Even the coach, Howard Garcia, made it a point to point out, “their commitment to each other, their love for each other, and the kind of people they are on and off the court.”
So that plays well in culture, and it’s what we’re trained to say. But in real life competition – in the fox hole – the Tipp girls oozed a different instinct and attribute.
And that instinct governed the incredible performance of senior Brianna Morris who stepped up in the fourth and deciding set and served twelve consecutive points to push Tipp’s lead and momentum to an unapproachable margin at winning time. It led to a 19-3 run that will be talked about for decades, not how much they loved each other. It’s what three thousand people from zip code 45371 turned out to see, not handshake lines and sentiments of “we gave it our best”.
Sophomore Abby Mader contributed a match-high 20 kills in a title-winning performance over Bloom-Carroll.
It was sophomore Abby Mader’s untiring desire to compete, and her ability to put pressure on the Bloom-Carroll defense by beating one laser shot kill after another into an overmatched block at the net. She finished the match with 20 kills, and many during that 19-3 run.
It was Savannah Clawson, who while admitting fatigue on Friday and again Saturday, sharing that she “needed to figure it out – perspective – dig deep one point at a time.”
It was junior Faith Siefring, who threw her body around without regard to dig out kill attempts and provide dependable first contact on opposing serves. What Garcia would later compliment this way: “She’s the best libero in the state.”
It was fox hole mentality – instinct – the guy next to you with a loaded gun, not someone with a book of poetry, reading Keats.
And this is what should be remembered about the Tipp girls, 29-0, having beaten three of the state’s best teams – in any division – to fight through the disappointments and frustration and win that elusive first title in the history of Tipp volleyball.
There are those who adamantly disagree with a priority to win. But honestly, who among those 3,000 who watched, and the 15 who played, came Saturday with any other thought in mind?
Our compliments to the 2025 Red Devils…for reminding us of whoever first said, “It’s about the fight in the dog.” That it’s the size of your game, and not the size of the opponent. That where butts are concerned, how good it feels to be the ‘kicker’, and not the ‘kickee’. Those who watched, I hope, had goose bumps…because I did.
With congratulations, the Tippecanoe volleyball team is this week’s ‘Who’s Hot’ honoree on Press Pros.
Peace of mind is as easy as the relationship you have with your local bank, and the St. Henry bank is small enough to know you, and big enough to serve you. The St. Henry Bank joins Press Pros Magazine in recognizing this week’s “Who’s Hot” honoree…the Tipp City girls volleyball team, and Tippecanoe High School.