EMOTION SPARKS URSULINE'S VICTORY:IN WAKE OF NEWS OF SCHOOL'S CLOSING, BEARS PULL OFF UPSET OF EL MOLINO

Ending a nine-year playoff drought was a great comeback for the Ursuline volleyball team Wednesday after ending practice a day earlier with news the school is closing.

In upsetting El Molino on the road, 3-1, for their first North Coast Section playoff win since 2001, the Bears get another Division IV match in a season they don't want to end.

"We had to come into the game with emotions. We turned it into a positive. We wanted to win this," said Taylor Lownes, who nailed the match-winning point on a cross-court kill.

One of the team's top defenders, Lownes joined another junior, Natalie Andrews, to help carry Ursuline. They and several other players must find another team next year, perhaps at a coed Cardinal Newman, but that can wait as they go back to practice today.

"It's sad. But we will be strong as a team. We're sisters," Andrews said.

Facing a team with an emotional spark was difficult for the higher-seeded Lions. Falling behind two games to none, El Molino mounted a comeback, finally playing with the fun and energy that made this season so successful.

"At the end, we played hard but couldn't pull it out," said Siera Taylor, the best player on the court. "I think they did want it more."

The deciding game was Ursuline's greatest effort in a tight match. Falling behind 10-3, the Bears went on a run to even the game at 12, with Emily Papali and McKenzie Mangino spiking and blocking up front and Lownes and Carly Rafanelli digging and setting up the big hitters.

El Molino took a 19-13 lead, with Taylor and Erica Gutsch strong at the net and Mellissa Manni serving a trio of aces.

Using a pair of three-point runs, Ursuline closed the gap. Elizabeth Meddaugh and Papli alternated at the power-hitting spot with Papli later giving the Bears their first lead since the game's opening point at 23-22. Ursuline would close out the game 26-24 to take the match.

"They absolutely exceeded their expectations," said Ursuline coach Amber Oden. "I am so amazingly proud of them. It's been an emotional 24 hours."

The first Ursuline team with a game after officials announced plans to close at the end of this school year, the Bears' volleyball squad discussed the importance of playing its best and pulling off an upset.

"If we lost, we would just cry because no one could back us up next year," Lownes said. Breaking out on top in the first game was a good start. But the Bears' largest lead was three points until the game clincher off a typically hard serve from Andrews.

Ursuline wasn't playing like the fifth-place team in the North Bay League.

Strong serving, led by Andrews and Jessica Biddulph, kept El Molino from getting into much of an offensive rhythm, forcing the Lions to work hard for points. When the Bears scored, it was often on dinks and quick shots into open spots on the floor.

Carrying that play into the second game, Ursuline forged a five-point lead with Lownes, Andrews and Meddaugh keeping the pressure on El Molino. But the Bears couldn't pull away as Taylor Lunardi led the El Molino defense and both Taylor and Gutsch found their strokes, with Emma Vierra setting up many big shots.

After a Taylor spike brought the Lions within a point, the Bears scored four of the next five points for the win.

The Lions found another gear, dominating much of the third game. Taylor's over-the-back shot to a corner secured El Molino's lone win.

Again the Lions would take a sizable lead in the fourth game. But this time, the Bears would complete the comeback.

"We needed to keep our energy up," Papali said. "It shows that we know how to fight and win."