Sports

We just watched the last great golf story

“May you get what you wish for.”—The third Chinese curse When Rory McIlroy settled down in front of the media in the aftermath of his great, chaotic, cathartic victory at the Masters, he began his opening statement with a joke: “What are we all going to talk about next year?” It landed. Everyone laughed, and […]

Published

2 months ago

April 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

We just watched the last great golf story

“May you get what you wish for.”
—The third Chinese curse

When Rory McIlroy settled down in front of the media in the aftermath of his great, chaotic, cathartic victory at the Masters, he began his opening statement with a joke: “What are we all going to talk about next year?”

It landed. Everyone laughed, and he laughed, too. As far as I could tell, his tone was congenial, and McIlroy of all people—subject of unbearable scrutiny here and at every other major for a decade and more—had earned the good-natured dig. Behind it, though, as the night went on and I tossed the words around, I detected some deeper, more uncomfortable truth. And the truth felt ominous, and it kept me awake.

Because, actually…what are we going to talk about?

Don’t mistake me—I don’t regret McIlroy’s win. Not even a little.

There’s a rule in sketch comedy that within a scene, you never, ever solve the problem. The comedy comes from tension, so you play the problem, you prolong the conflict, and when you’ve extracted all the humor you can, you bail out. Resolution is not funny—it cuts the tension, and it’s unsatisfying for the audience. Take the famous SNL cowbell sketch as an example. Imagine if, after a minute, one of the band members had successfully stopped Will Ferrell from playing the cowbell. Party’s over, right? The two critical ingredients of that sketch are that one, the bandmates must want him to stop playing the cowbell, and two, he must never stop playing the cowbell. Whatever it takes, including the intervention of Christopher Walken’s weirdo producer, that conflict must be preserved. Extrapolate from there to the narratives of professional golf, and you could argue that McIlroy needed to keep losing majors in order to heighten the tension and prolong the action. Resolution, in the form of him winning a major, meant we would lose the story for good.

But sketch comedy is called “short form” for a reason, and in longform drama (or whatever combination of drama and comedy real life represents), delaying the resolution eventually hits a point of diminishing returns. This weekend at Augusta, that time had come; there was only one satisfying end to the long saga of Rory McIlroy’s 11-year sojourn in the desert of major championship golf:

Victory had been deferred as long as possible, and, admittedly, to great dramatic effect. Just when you thought we had run out of ways to see his heart break in the most public forum possible, fate delivered: he blew the fairytale ending at the Home of Golf, he missed the unmissable putt at Pinehurst, twice. Each loss, importantly, was an escalation on the one that came before, a dramatic heightening, and that itself is a key ingredient of a great story.

To lose at Augusta, as he threatened to do at least half a dozen times on Sunday, would have been just as unbearable, but—critical difference—it would have been unbearable in a way that undermined the journey. Pinehurst had been the absolute limit of a decade of escalations; at this point, he had been hurt a little too much. Heartbreak at Augusta would look less like an interesting setback, and more like celestial sadism.

“There’s something cruel in this,” my friend Chris said to me as we watched McIlroy dump his undumpable pitch into the water on 13. He put the words to what we all felt, and that’s when the epiphany hit: there was no longer anything interesting about Rory blowing a major. It would be a dark farce, but also a tedious one, a gratuitous one, and it would pay off emotionally only for those who enjoyed suffering for its own sake.

Whoever is writing the Rory saga seemed to get it. A decade of losses got us to where we are today, but one more loss would, paradoxically, undermine the carefully built tension. The win that transpired, on the other hand, unleashed a staggering catharsis, emphasizing the incredible competitive resilience of the “eternal optimist” whose greatness was a static fact and whose ultimate triumph came from a heroic refusal to stop trying. He was Odysseus, hellbent on getting home no matter how the gods tried to break him, until even the gods began to love him again.

McIlroy became great with the early wins, but he became heroic through his failures, and he became larger than life through his suffering. If you wanted him to win on Sunday, as I did, it wasn’t because of his real-life personal qualities, or the deficiencies of his opponents, but because you couldn’t bear to see this kind of extended suffering go unrewarded. Whatever you think of him, whatever complications you see in his actions, hadn’t he earned this? Didn’t he deserve it?

There was no better ending than Augusta. No better ending than a thousand obstacles at the threshold, convincing you he might be eternally cursed. No better ending than unbearable tension and agonizing delays right until the very end, until finally, can you ****ing believe it, victory. He’s the greatest story in sports, and I am in awe of the author who stuck the landing.

So despite a certain melancholy attached to passing time, I’m not upset that the story had to end. The string had played out. After Pinehurst, another journalist told me that golf would get a lot less interesting if McIlroy ever actually won, and I took his point, but yesterday the alternative looked even less appetizing. It was time for a series finale.

But now, to attempt to answer that original question, what are we going to talk about next?

If McIlroy’s journey had a heroic quality to it—and again, the comparison to Odysseus is too obvious not to reuse—the conclusion to that journey leaves me with a certain cynicism about what comes next. Look around, and what you see seems less like a clean slate and more like a vacuum.

What if Rory wins more majors? He might—he probably will—but none will carry the same weight. Not even close.

What if other players emerge and go on great runs? They have, and they will, but do any of them connect like McIlroy, for good and bad? Each passing generation becomes more media-trained, more single-minded, and—outside of the golf course but perhaps on it too—so much less interesting. How can they inspire anything close to the same strong feelings?

What about stories off the course? Sure, there will be plenty of those, but have you enjoyed what you’ve seen lately? Are you excited for more years of the endless PGA Tour-LIV power struggle, or the hyper-injections of money that steadily rob professional golf of it soul? Is that what we have to look forward to?

What about Jordan Spieth? OK, fair point.

Aside from a few flickering torches, though, it’s a dark landscape, and while people like me will always find something worth spending words on, what will tug on the heartstrings of the average fan?

In 1992, in the years immediately after the end of the Cold War, Francis Fukayama wrote a book called ‘The End of History and the Last Man,’ in which he argued that, to quote the simplified summary on Wikipedia, we had reached “the end-point of mankind’s ideological evolution and the universalization of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government.” Fukayama is often mocked for being very wrong about this, and the implication of my argument, that we have seen the last of professional golf’s great heroic epics, may look equally short-sighted with time. I may be a victim of the moment, influenced by a certain fatigue with the world in 2025. I’m not afraid to tell you it has happened before.

But it feels like professional golf had two great, mythic cards to play in the last decade, and it played both cards to perfection at the most mythic battlefield in the sport, Augusta National, in 2019 and 2025. What remains in the wake feels faint and ineffectual, just a shadow of the spectacle we were lucky enough to witness on Sunday.

To answer McIlroy’s question literally, there will be plenty to talk about. There always is. But to stare into the abyss of the subtext, I’m not sure it will be quite like this ever again. Even as the players get better, the stories get worse, and I can’t shake the feeling we are in the twilight of the gods.

Related Topics:bad cold golf history matter media minute night sports

Up Next

Monster Energy's UNLEASHED Podcast Interviews Professional Bull Rider John Crimber on …

Don't Miss

Football, basketball players score most NIL deals

Click to comment

Sports

McNicholas High School boys volleyball team wins Division II state championship

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The McNicholas High School boys volleyball team is a state champion for a second straight season. The Rockets defeated Mount Vernon 25-21, 25-4, 25-17 in the Division II state final Saturday afternoon at Wittenberg University. This is the second state title in program history. Gavin Gerhard had 13 kills, three service aces, […]

Published

8 minutes ago

May 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The McNicholas High School boys volleyball team is a state champion for a second straight season.

The Rockets defeated Mount Vernon 25-21, 25-4, 25-17 in the Division II state final Saturday afternoon at Wittenberg University. This is the second state title in program history.

Gavin Gerhard had 13 kills, three service aces, five digs and two block assists. Ethan Gundrum had nine kills, 18 assists, five digs and three block assists.

McNicholas (27-1) won 23 consecutive matches to complete its special season. The Rockets defeated Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in a state semifinal Friday afternoon to set up the state final Saturday.

McNicholas is coached by Connor Games, a 2015 graduate, who just completed his first season as the varsity head coach. This is a team with nine seniors.

SIGN UP: Subscribe to our high school sports newsletter

Link

Sports

Bearcat Athletes of the Week: Kai Stolzfus and Kiley Bowman

Bearcats: Kai Stolzfus (Junior) and Kiley Bowman (Sophomore) Sport: Beach Volleyball Comment: “Our final submission for Athlete of the week from Beach Volleyball will be our 1’s Team! Kai Stolzfus (Junior) and Kiley Bowman (Sophomore) were our STARS OF THE SEASON! From a coach’s perspective, these are the athletes you pray for. Competitive, great sportsmanship, […]

Published

12 minutes ago

May 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Bearcats: Kai Stolzfus (Junior) and Kiley Bowman (Sophomore)

Sport: Beach Volleyball

Comment: “Our final submission for Athlete of the week from Beach Volleyball will be our 1’s Team! Kai Stolzfus (Junior) and Kiley Bowman (Sophomore) were our STARS OF THE SEASON! From a coach’s perspective, these are the athletes you pray for. Competitive, great sportsmanship, drive to be better every day, continual growth, and tremendous potential! Top it off with great teammates and scholar academics, and they are the whole package.

With another year in front of us, I am more than excited to get to our next season of Beach and watch these ladies dazzle us on the sand for another season. Thank you, ladies, for making your school, your families, your coaches, and Paso Robles proud!

All coaches at Paso Robles High School are invited to participate in Athletes of the Week to recognize students who were standouts at a recent competition, showing improvement at practices, or bringing a great attitude to the team. Coaches may contact Beth Brennan at beth@accesspublishing.com.

Thank you to our sponsors of athletes of the week:

Red Scooter Deli is your local deli in Paso Robles. Drop by for a leisurely breakfast, quick lunch bite, refreshing smoothie or a cup of locally roasted coffee. Breakfast choices range from pastries and smoothies to breakfast sandwiches and scrambles. They have a full coffee bar and a wide variety of teas. Any meal can be made gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan. Visitors one of two locations in Paso Robles. 1102 Pine St, Paso Robles CA, 93446, (805) 237-1794 or 711 6th ST, Paso Robles CA, 93446, (805) 237-1780. redscooterdeli.com.

China Gourmet – “We could never have imagined that food this good could be so healthy!” It’s true! They serve fresh quality dishes that contain only the finest ingredients and freshest vegetables. Their 30-plus years of experience with Chinese cuisine have made them experts in putting together recipes that are delicious and healthy. Enjoy eating in their dining room with your whole family or order online for pick up. They also deliver to Paso Robles, Templeton, and Atascadero. Follow them on TikTok and Facebook. 153 Niblick Rd. Paso Robles CA 93446 www.thechinagourmet.net (805) 238-9229.

Brezden Pest Control has been proudly providing SLO County with professional pest control services for four decades. If you’re tired of sharing your space with pests, they can help. They are homeowners, too – so they know exactly how satisfying it can be to have a pest-free home. 77 Marquita Ave, Paso Robles, CA 93446, brezdenpest.com, (805) 544-9446.

North County Orthodontics – Drs. Ross and Laura Pulver believe everyone deserves a beautiful smile. Their goal is to provide excellent treatment that is comfortable and personalized to your needs. Drs. Ross and Laura Pulver are a husband and wife team who work hard to give all of their patients the most effective and efficient treatment. Together, they have created thousands of unforgettable smiles. Contact us to for your complimentary consultation or schedule online at one of our 2 convenient locations. We look forward to meeting you and can’t wait to make a difference in your life! Call or text us at (805) 238-2632. Learn more at www.northcoortho.com. Located at 1115 Vine St in Paso Robles and 4555 El Camino Real Suite B in Atascadero.

About the author: News Staff

The news staff of the Paso Robles Daily News wrote or edited this story from local contributors and press releases. The news staff can be reached at info@pasoroblesdailynews.com.

Link

Sports

Always improving Penn-Trafford boys volleyball team earns spot in state playoffs

By: Paul Schofield Saturday, May 31, 2025 | 11:01 AM Josh Rizzo | For TribLive Penn-Trafford middle hitter Nick Laskey hits past Seneca Valley’s Jordan Hoover during the second set of a WPIAL Class 3A semifinal May 20 at Fox Chapel. Josh Rizzo | For TribLive Billy Spena (left) and Ethan McDonald celebrate after Penn-Trafford […]

Published

27 minutes ago

May 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

By: Paul Schofield

Saturday, May 31, 2025 | 11:01 AM

8546964_web1_gtr-PTvb1-052125 — Josh Rizzo | For TribLive

Penn-Trafford middle hitter Nick Laskey hits past Seneca Valley’s Jordan Hoover during the second set of a WPIAL Class 3A semifinal May 20 at Fox Chapel.

8546964_web1_gtr-PTvb2-052125 — Josh Rizzo | For TribLive

Billy Spena (left) and Ethan McDonald celebrate after Penn-Trafford forced a fifth set in a WPIAL Class 3A semifinal May 20 at Fox Chapel.

The mark of a good team is how much it improves during the season.

Penn-Trafford boys volleyball finished third in Section 2-3A, but after an upset win against section champion Latrobe and a win against Pine-Richland in the WPIAL third-place game, the Warriors found themselves in the PIAA playoffs, scheduled to face the winner of the Erie McDowell/State College game on June 3.

“We kept improving,” Penn-Trafford legendary coach Jim Schall said. “I do not know if I expected this, but we kept getting better and better. We are playing really well.”

After Penn-Trafford defeated Latrobe, 3-2, in the WPIAL quarterfinals, the Warriors lost 3-2 against a tall and talented Seneca Valley squad. In that game, Warriors setter Nathaniel Rugh sustained an upper body injury that kept him from playing against Pine-Richland.

Schall said Rugh has been cleared to return to play.

Stepping in for Rugh was junior Billy Spena as Penn-Trafford defeated Pine-Richland, 3-1.

“I thought we would be competitive against Latrobe,” Schall said. “It was a huge win for the team. Latrobe had some talented players.

“We continued to play well against Seneca Valley and Pine-Richland. Billy stepped in and did a great job against Pine-Richland.”

Schall said Spena had not set much this season, but he was a setter for the junior varsity team and his club team.

“He ran the offense well,” Schall said. “He did an outstanding job.”

Other players stepping up for the Warriors were libero Nick Sandrock, middle hitter Owen Gisi and outside hitter Ethan McDonald.

“The team has continued to play well,” Schall said, who said he does not know much about State College or Erie McDowell. “We had not seen them this season. I am sure they are good.”

Athletic physicals set

Penn-Trafford will be offering physicals at the high school for all athletes from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m June 12. The cost is $15. (PayPal payments can be made during registration. No cash or checks at check-in.

Payment is required to complete physical registration. No walk-ins will be accepted.)

In addition to signing up for the physical, athletes must select the fall sport they are signing up for at registration.

Registration will close at 11:55 p.m. June 9.

Please see the ArbiterSports registration page for all information concerning the registration, CIPPE Athletic Physical and ImPACT Baseline Concussion Testing.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Penn-Trafford

Link

Sports

Douglas High has 17 collegiate athlete signees

Published

31 minutes ago

May 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The 17 senior student-athletes of Douglas High School stand for a photo after signing their Letters of Intent Thursday in Minden. Pictured in front from left to right are Tyler Sentell, baseball, Diablo Valley College; Duncan DeLange, baseball, Butte College; Brent Faiss, baseball, DVC; Jeffrey Peters, baseball, College of Southern Nevada; Jackson Ovard, football, Feather River; Caden Martin, football, Feather River; Caden Thacker, basketball, De Anza College; Brenton Weston, football, Southern Oregon University; Sumer Williams, beach volleyball, Feather River; Cam McLelland, softball, Case Western Reserve; Ashlyn Greenfield, basketball, Sierra College. In back from left, Evan Tolbert, basketball, Palo Verde College; Stella White, pole vault, University of Nevada; Madison Frisby, golf, Southern Virginia University; Kolton Zinn, wrestling, Cal Poly Humboldt; Luke Davis, track and cross country, Saint Mary’s College; Giana Zinke, golf, Manhattan University.
Photo by Ron Harpin.

Douglas High School had 17 student-athletes sign their National Letter of Intent Thursday to compete in collegiate athletics at the next level.

In total, the Tigers had three athletes sign at the Div. 1 athletic level, one at Div. II, two at Div. III, one NAIA and 10 junior college signees.

DIVISION 1

• Giana Zinke, golf, Manhattan University

• Stella White, pole vault, University of Nevada

• Luke Davis, track and cross country, Saint Mary’s College (Moraga, Calif.)

DIVISION II

• Kolton Zinn, wrestling, Cal Poly Humboldt

DIVISION III

• Madison Frisby, golf, Southern Virginia University

• Cam McLelland, softball, Case Western Reserve

NAIA

• Brenton Weston, football, Southern Oregon

JUNIOR COLLEGE

• Brent Faiss, baseball, Diablo Valley College

• Tyler Sentell, baseball, Diablo Valley College

• Duncan DeLange, baseball, Butte College

• Jeffrey Peters, baseball, College of Southern Nevada

• Jackson Ovard, football, Feather River College

• Caden Martin, football, Feather River College

• Caden Thacker, basketball, De Anza College

• Sumer Williams, beach volleyball, Feather River College

• Ashlyn Greenfield, basketball, Sierra College

• Evan Tolbert, basketball, Palo Verde College

Link

Sports

Novi Beograd, FTC Telekom reach LEN Champions League final

VK NOVI BEOGRAD 15 ZODIAC BARCELONETA 14 (3-3, 2-1, 1-3, 4-3; after penalties) The lights burned bright over Tal-Qroqq as Malta played again host to another unforgettable night of elite water polo. With a passionate crowd roaring from the stands, the Final Four returned for a second edition that delivered everything it promised – drama, […]

Published

36 minutes ago

May 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

VK NOVI BEOGRAD 15

ZODIAC BARCELONETA 14

(3-3, 2-1, 1-3, 4-3; after penalties)

The lights burned bright over Tal-Qroqq as Malta played again host to another unforgettable night of elite water polo. With a passionate crowd roaring from the stands, the Final Four returned for a second edition that delivered everything it promised – drama, skills, and nerve-wrecking ending.

Reigning champions Ferencvaros will face Novi Beograd in Sunday’s final.

Novi Beograd stood tall once more – a team haunted by near-misses, but undeterred. Finalists in 2022 and 2023, the Serbian powerhouse came to Malta with one goal: to finally lift the trophy that has twice eluded them. And after another nerve-shredding semifinal, they’re one step closer.

As it happened in their last appearance in 2023, they made it to the final after defeating Barceloneta after a penalty shootout in the first semifinal game.

Facing Spanish champions Barceloneta in another showdown, Novi Beograd struck early with a 2-0 lead in the first period and held a 6-4 advantage in the third. But the Spaniards roared back, mounting a 3-0 run to flip the match and edge ahead 7-6.

Tension mounted in the final quarter. Alvaro Granados gave Barceloneta a narrow 9-8 lead from the five-metre line, but Miroslav Perkovic and Dimitrios Skoumpakis flipped the script for the Serbians. With one second on the clock, however, disaster struck — a defensive lapse allowed Burian to pounce and push the match into extra time.

In the shootout, Novi Beograd held their nerve. All five of their shooters converted. On the other end, Unai Biel Lara blinked — his shot denied by goalkeeper Glusac. Milos Cuk stepped up and calmly buried the decider, sending the Serbian side into their third consecutive final, chasing a long-awaited crown.

Could it finally be third time lucky for Novi Beograd?

Penalty Sequence: Perrone (B) scored; Martinovic (N) scored; Granados (B) scored; Lukic (N) scored; Vigvari (B) scored; Dimitrijevic (N) scored; Sanahuija (B) scored; Vlahopoulos (N) scored; Biel Lara (B); Cuk (N) scored.

Novi Beograd: M. Glusac, B. Gbadamassi 1, D. Skoumpakis 2, V. Martinovic 2, M. Cuk 2, L. Gladovic 1, D. Vucinic, M. Dimitrijevic 1, M. Perkovic 1, A. Vlahopoulos, N. Lukic, D. Trtovic, F. De Michelis.

Barceloneta : U. Aguirre, M. Famera Kopencova, A. Granados 5, A. Munarriz 1, B. Sanahuija 1 V. Vigvari 1, B. Gomila, G. Burian 2, R. Tahull, F. Perrone, U. Biel Lara, A. Bustos Sanchez, N. Porter.

Refs: B. Margeta (Slovenia), F. Ohme (Germany).

FTC TELEKOM 14

MAR CN MARSEILLE 11

(5-2, 3-2, 2-4,4-3)

Ferencvaros: D. Szakonyi, D. Mandic 1, K. Manhercz 1, A. Nagy 2, M. Vamos 2, E di Somma, G. Argyropoulos 3, E. Molnar, V. Vigvari 1, S. Jansik 1, M. De Toro Dominguez 1, S. Vogel.

Marseille: P. Tesanovic, D. Angyal, U. Crousillat 1, V. Spaic. A. Prlainovic 3, T. Vernoux 3, M. Larumbe, A, Bouet, R. Vernoux 1, M. Bodegas 3, P. Vanpeperstraete, A. Velotto, A. Hovhannysian.

Refs: A. Franulovic (Croatia), M. Zwart (Netherlands).

Ferencvaros are looking to become the first Hungarian team ever to defend the Champions League title after dispatching Marseille with clinical authority. Yet, the French side, debutants in the Final Four, must be commended for their fighting spirit.

While Hungarian clubs have lifted the trophy nine times in the past, none have managed to retain the crown the following season. But Ferencváros, reigning champions after last year’s triumph in Malta, showed they are serious about rewriting that script.

Facing Marseille, the Hungarians wasted no time asserting dominance. Exploding out of the gates, they surged to a commanding 3-0 lead as the French side suffered an initial stage-fright. Although Andrija Prlainović sparked a French response, Ferencváros held firm and turned around at halftime with an 8-4 cushion.

Stylianos Argyropoulos completed his hat-trick early in the third quarter, but a brief Marseille resurgence saw veterans Michael Bodegas and Ugo Crousillat cut the deficit to 9-7. Sensing the shift in momentum, Márton Vámos stepped up to reestablish a comfortable lead.

Still, the French side refused to go quietly. Prlainović and Bodegas each netted again to complete hat-tricks and bring the score to a dramatic 10-10 early in the fourth.

But when it mattered most, Ferencváros found another gear. Dusan Mandić and Erik Molnár restored their lead to 12-10, and despite Thomas Vernoux keeping Marseille within reach, Miguel de Toro Domínguez made it 13-11 before Nagy’s late strike sealed the victory.

Now, just one win separates Ferencváros from history — and a second consecutive Champions League crown.

Link

Sports

Thomas Worthington, Mount Vernon to play for OHSAA volleyball titles

The Thomas Worthington boys volleyball team advanced to the Division I state final by beating a central Ohio foe May 30 at Wittenberg University. The Cardinals defeated New Albany 25-19, 25-13, 26-24 and will play Cleveland St. Ignatius for the title at noon May 31. St. Ignatius outlasted defending champion Cincinnati St. Xavier 25-27, 25-21, 25-23, […]

Published

50 minutes ago

May 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The Thomas Worthington boys volleyball team advanced to the Division I state final by beating a central Ohio foe May 30 at Wittenberg University.

The Cardinals defeated New Albany 25-19, 25-13, 26-24 and will play Cleveland St. Ignatius for the title at noon May 31. St. Ignatius outlasted defending champion Cincinnati St. Xavier 25-27, 25-21, 25-23, 16-25, 15-8 in the second semifinal May 30.

Thomas (22-4) is playing in its first state tournament since 1994 and seeking its first championship since 1990.

“To get to the last day of the season is always the goal,” Thomas coach Brian Lawless said. “We’re definitely excited (about) being back (at) Wittenberg (on May 31) and looking forward to competing and (trying) to win the whole thing.”

New Albany (17-9) was playing in its first state tournament.

Thomas played most of the match without senior middle blocker Finn Rubin, who has been dealing with back issues all season and played limited minutes late in the second set. Lawless said Rubin will be available for the final.

J.T. McGuire led Thomas with 16 kills and three digs. Curt Buddie had 11 kills, and Noah May had seven kills and five blocks.

Levi Starinsky led New Albany with 10 kills, 12 digs and two blocks. Yashas Devulapally had eight kills, four blocks and three digs, and Michael Botkin added six kills and three digs.

“Our boys had an unbelievable run,” New Albany coach Dan Baer said. “We put together a season many didn’t think we could. I couldn’t be prouder of these boys. Getting to this point with one senior (in Adam Sutton) is an incredible accomplishment in itself. All credit to Thomas Worthington. They have hitters all over the place and at times we just couldn’t stop their offense.”

Mount Vernon 3, Macedonia Nordonia 0

Mount Vernon will look to win its first state title when it takes on defending champion Cincinnati McNicholas in the Division II final at 3 p.m. May 31 at Wittenberg.

The Yellow Jackets (17-10) advanced by beating Nordonia 25-17, 25-14, 25-19 in a semifinal May 30.

McNicholas defeated Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary 25-19, 25-22, 25-16 in the other semifinal.

Zach Black led Mount Vernon with 11 kills, seven digs and four aces. Hunter Thompson had 11 kills, seven digs and three aces, and Cooper Swanson added five kills, five digs and two aces.

The Yellow Jackets lost in state semifinals in 2019, 2012 and 2010.

(This story has been updated with new information.)

High school sports reporter Frank DiRenna can be reached at fdirenna@dispatch.com and at @DispatchFrank on X.

Link