SAPULPA – Bethany won its first state championship in volleyball, winning the Class 4A crown with a 3-1 win over top-ranked Community Christian Saturday (Oct. 19).
The Lady Bronchos earned the title in a rematch of the last season’s final, won by the Royals. CCS also beat Bethany twice during this regular season.
For the championship however, the second-ranked Lady Bronchos won 28-26, 25-17, 21-25 and 25-23.
Bethany coach Kerri Cagle recalled end-of-season meetings with her players a year ago after the final loss.
“They all were like next year, like we want to be back at that championship against CCS. We have unfinished business,” Cagle said.
“Pretty much, since this exact same time last year, they’ve had this goal in the back of their minds, like we have work to do.”
Cagle likened the season to putting together “the pieces to the puzzle.”
The final piece of the puzzle was a win over Community Christian and the Royals tried to make sure that piece didn’t fit easily.
In the first set, the Lady Bronchos fell behind, 7-2. They roared back to tie it, 25-25. The went on to win, 28-26.
In the second set, Bethany got out to 19-7 lead, but the defending champ Royals came back. Bethany pulled away, 25-17.
CCS pulled out the third set by four points coming back from a Bethany 22-20 lead
In the fourth set, Bethany pulled ahead, 15-10. The Lady Bronchos would have to withstand another Royal run as CCS got within one point several times.
The match stayed close the rest of the way.
Leading 24-23, junior Chloe Evans set it for junior Skylar Brady who spiked it over the net. The ball deflected off a Royal defender and to the gym floor for the final point.
The Lady Bronchos rushed the court for a celebratory dogpile.
Brady and senior Jaidyn Reid were players most were familiar with but Gracee Geissler, Callie Gulikers and Maya McPhaul all played roles in the setting down the last piece.
SEMIFINAL: BETHANY 3, CASCIA HALL 2
Earlier in the day, Bethany defeated Cascia Hall in five sets. The semifinal match was halted during the third set Friday (Oct. 18) because of a medical emergency involving a Cascia Hall fan.
The Commandos, tied for second with Bethany in the final rankings, came back after being down 2-1, winning the fourth set and forcing a fifth set. Bethany advanced, 25-11, 25-27, 25-17, 23-25, 15-13.
SENSE OF CALM
Despite the circumstance of having to finish the semifinal match against Cascia Hall and tough task of beating CCS, Cagle said she had a feeling during the pressure-packed matches.
“I just had the sense of calmness, the whole time, and it’s like in the back of my mind, I knew I just I knew they were gonna do it,” Cagle said. “I just knew I just had this feeling of, I didn’t know if it was gonna be in three sets, four sets, five sets, but I knew I just knew it was gonna happen.”
BETHANY VOLLEYBALL SINCE 2013
| 2013 | 19-14 | |
| 2014 | 26-7 | 4A State Quarterfinals |
| 2015 | 16-17 | |
| 2016 | 18-15 | 4A State Quarterfinals |
| 2017 | 23-8 | |
| 2018 | 26-8 | 4A State Semifinals |
| 2019 | 23-12 | 4A State Quarterfinals |
| 2020 | 15-9 | 4A State Quarterfinals |
| 2021 | 20-17 | 4A State Quarterfinals |
| 2022 | 22-13 | |
| 2023 | 33-8 | 4A State Runner-up |
| 2024 | 34-4 | 4A State Champions |
FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER YEARS OF SUCCESS
The win gives Bethany its first state championship in volleyball, a sport that Cagle helped start at the school.
“I was telling the girls earlier, like, as far as my coaching career, this is the one thing that I’ve never been able to highlight off.,” Cagle said. It was really special to be able to they’ve worked so hard and deserve all the things and so it was really special that they helped me fulfill a goal that I’ve had for a long time.”
Over the last 12 seasons (including 2024), the Lady Bronchos have made the state tournament eight times, including one semifinal appearance and two appearances in the finals.
The championship is Bethany’s eight title in all sports and the fourth girls state championship in school history.
BETHANY STATE TITLES
| SPORT | STATE TITLES (CLASS) |
|---|---|
| BASEBALL | 1955 (B) |
| BOYS BASKETBALL | 2001 (3A) |
| FOOTBALL | 2003 (2A) |
| CHEERLEADING (GAMEDAY) | 2019 (4A) |
| BOYS CROSS COUNTRY | 2023 (4A) |
| GIRLS BASKETBALL | 2024 (4A), 2023 (4A) |
| VOLLEYBALL | 2024 (4A) |
REID REACHES MILESTONE
During the Community Christian match, Bethany senior Jaidyn Reid surpassed the 1,000 kill mark during her high school career.
“I think that was also special being a senior in the state championship game and being able to accomplish that was really special,” Cagle said of Reid’s milestone.
CLASS 4A STATE TOURNAMENT (AT SAPULPA)
THURSDAY, October 17, 2024
Victory Christian 3, Lincoln Christian 2
Cascia Hall 3, Tuttle 0
Bethany 3, Regent Prep 1 (25-14, 25-22, 8-25, 25-19)
Community Christian 3, Tecumseh 0 (25-6, 26-24, 25-21)
FRIDAY, October 18, 2024
Community Christian 3, Victory Christian 0
SATURDAY, October 19, 2024
Bethany 3, Cascia Hall 2 (25-11, 25-27, 25-17, 23-25, 15-13) (resumed from Friday, Oct. 18)
Bethany 3, Community Christian 1 (28-26, 25-17, 21-25, 25-23) (State Championship)
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