Versailles Are The D-V Champs In Volleyball…Tigers Beat Rival Coldwater In Three To Win Fourth Title

The most knowledgeable of the sport said that you couldn’t have played better…or better than Versailles Saturday to claim their fourth OHSAA state title in volleyball over MAC rival Coldwater.

Fairborn, OH – Less than twenty four hours after a disappointing regional loss in football Friday night, Liz McNeilan’s Lady Tigers lifted the spirits, and the mood, in 45380 Saturday afternoon at the Nutter Center with one of the tournament’s most efficient title performances in 51 years…since 1975 and the inaugural year of the volleyball state tournament.

“You can’t play better than Versailles played today.  I swear it,”  said a smiling former coach who watched from the end of the Nutter Center court.

“They were nearly perfect,”  added an excited fan from the throng of Versailles fan who turned out to witness.

“They had it all today,”  someone added in a post-game broadcast from press row.

And indeed, it seemed like it.  After winning the opening set 27-25, a game that included 20 ties and 10 lead changes, the Tigers found another gear in the second, winning 25-11, and capped their performance with a 25-12 runaway in the third.  Coldwater never led in the either of the final two sets.

It was as complete, and dominant, a win as anyone could honestly recall in an OHSAA title match, despite hardly being unprecedented.  Things like this happen on title Saturday.  But rarely was it as unexpected as this title Saturday!

Coming off a straight set win Friday against South Range, Versailles not only carried that momentum and precision forward, but actually built upon it.  As good as they were Friday, as claimed by no less than South Range coach TJ Irons…they were even better twenty four hours later.

“The game of volleyball is based on a lot of momentum,”  said a most gracious Coldwater coach Nikki Etzler, afterwards.  “And they put a lot of service pressure on us that took us out of our offense today.  It was hard for us to manage.  And anytime you play someone for a second time it’s tough.  You’ve seen growth in our team, and they’ve had growth in their team, as well.  It’s a different matchup, even though it’s the same team.”

For her part, Liz McNeilan simply said, “It’s unbelievable that this could happen in a state tournament setting,”  speaking to the fact of how well her team had played, and that the Tigers didn’t lose a set in either of their Final Four matchups.

And given how they played on Friday, compared to a grueling five-set win for Coldwater over Meadowbrook that was noticeably taxing, it did spark question as to whether Versailles had the mental and physical advantage of less stress and fewer minutes in competition?

“It’s a MAC matchup,”  said McNeilan.  “So you knew there was going to be confidence on both sides – both ways.  There’s mutual respect both ways [whether you play five or play three to get here].  It’s just a MAC conference matchup, and you never know what you’re going to get.”

“But it is tough to come back in less than twenty four hours after yesterday and play,”  Nikki Etzler added. ” It’s an interesting position that the OHSAA puts you in where you play again in twenty four hours, where they’re not doing that with football or basketball.  But that takes nothing away from what Versailles did today. Other teams are having to do it, too (Parkway and Fort Loramie).  It is the schedule, and you can’t change that.  But it’s difficult.”

The first set, alone, was epic.  Neither team led by more than two points throughout, and yes…there were 20 ties and 10 lead changes.  Tough, gritty, and hard-nosed commitment to compete, it seemed to only spur on Versailles senior Kiley May who had 9 of her 15 kills for the match.  Literally, it felt like a matter of who could last the longest, or cry ‘Uncle’ first.  Neither team wavered, and neither team let its foot off the gas.  Versailles just happened to be the first to score back-to-back points when it was set point.

The second set, however, was a different matter.  There’s no question that losing after such a committed effort in the first set had a draining impact on the young Coldwater team.  Versailles jumped out to a 4-0 start.  Coldwater came back to tie at 5-5.  But the Tigers then rallied behind May and teammates Allie Wietholder and Megan Ratterman to go on a 12-1…a streak where every bounce and every tip of the net seemed to fall Versailles’ way.  To Etzler’s point, the game is about momentum and Versailles had it by the truckload.  Up at one point 17-6, they cruised to a 25-11 finish.

The third set was never in doubt, from point #1.  Again, Versailles jumped out 5-0, got the bit firmly in their teeth, and began a sprint to the finish.  At 16-8 Coldwater called its final timeout of the match.  At 18-8, Versailles took its own moment to consider the inevitable.

“I just reminded them to savor the moment and take things one point at a time,”  said McNeilan.  “I tend to get excited myself at times like that, and we just needed to go about it the right way.”

Which they did, finishing out the match, the championship, and the season 25-12 to claim their fourth state title, overall, and their first since winning back-to-back in 2017 (against Coldwater) and 2018.

Senior Kiley May finished with a team-high 15 kills, teammate Rowan Schmitmeyer had 33 assists, and Sophie Stammen finished with 15 digs on defense.

For Coldwater, Harlow Heyne led the Cavs with 9 kills, Charlotte Hoying had 19 assists, and Campbell Etzler had 9 digs.

As a statement to the growing popularity and impact of volleyball, those who were there in 2021 when Versailles finally won its seventh state title in football, a thrilling slugfest over Kirtland, well remember the appreciation and pride the Vesrailles community showed to see the legacy return, if only briefly.

Saturday, at match point, the large turnout that came to watch rose in unison to show that same appreciation for the sport of volleyball, which by defacto has become the new legacy sport of the Midwest Athletic Conference, with titles won by Coldwater (2), New Bremen (4), New Knoxville (1), Parkway (2), St. Henry (7), and Marion Local (5).

“What makes it so great is the impact that these girls are having on the young kids in the school system,”  beamed McNeilan, addressing the current popularity of the sport.  “They want to grow up like these girls, and that’s a good thing.”

Indeed, as the 2026 Division V volleyball title was battled for by two of the best groups of young people to be found anywhere in OHSAA competition – respectful, gracious, and competitive!

“We’ll definitely use today as incentive to prepare and get better for next year,”  smiled Coldwater junior, Campbell Etzler, the daughter of the coach.

The right thing to say at the right moment?

Don’t fool yourself.  There’s only one graduating senior at Coldwater this year, Paige Ontrop, and even she said she couldn’t wait to come back next year and see what’s next for Cavalier volleyball.

But for now, Saturday was simply Versailles’ day.  A day to remember, and importantly, remember with the 2021 football titles, and all those titles won during the Hetrick era…basketball, track, and cross country.  It also marked the 157th team title claimed by the MAC Conference.

Defacto no more…..

Volleyball in 45380, and the MAC, is a big deal, and here to stay.