Dominance defined the 2002 St. Paul volleyball team

Editor's note: This is the third of three stories on the St. Paul Hall of Fame Class of 2022. NORWALK — There was no sense being shy about it. When the St. Paul High School volleyball team started practice for the 2002 season, the goal was spoken and made clear: Win the Division IV state championship. Looking back, it was a bold approach given where the Flyers were as a program. Up to that point, St. Paul had yet to win a district championship, five victories short of what it takes to win a state title. "They were that determined," head coach Nancy Miller said of the 2002 team. "We weren't shy about it … we talked about it constantly, and what it took to have to get it done." As it turned out, there was nothing too bold about those aspirations. St. Paul didn't even lose a set until it reached the state championship match at the Nutter Center in Dayton, where it won a three-set thriller to finish a perfect 29-0. The 2002 team is not only the first in school history to win a state championship in a playoff/tournament format, but its sheer dominance made it one of the best teams in Huron County history. On the 20-year anniversary of that season, that team finds itself in the school's Class of 2022 Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame ceremony is being sponsored by RKS Power Solutions. It is being held this Friday at the St. Paul Social Hall. To check ticket availability, please contact the Alumni Office at 419-668-7223. "Coach Miller instilled a positive mindset going into the season that we would settle for nothing less than a trip to state, but we took it one day at a time and one match at a time," said Kim (Stoll) Caprara, a senior on the team. "But looking back, we had each other's backs every step of the way. We knew that we didn't want to feel that upset again in the district finals. "Honestly, looking back, that feeling of losing was one we had to experience to get that drive to not let it happen again," she added. "State was on our mind, and we knew we would only get there by doing it together." While any state championship-winning team is regarded fondly, it cannot be understated just how dominant St. Paul was in 2002. In the days of pre-rally scoring — with side outs and playing to 15 points in a best-of-three sets format — the Lady Flyers did not drop a set all the way until the state title match vs. Maria Stein Marion Local. Four times that season, St. Paul won a set by a 15-0 score. Of the 56 sets played prior to the state title match, only three times did the opponent reach 10 points or more. St. Paul also beat Huron (16-14, 15-6) in the regular season. How good were the Tigers? They won the Div. III state championship hours after St. Paul won its title. The 12-player roster — anchored by eight veteran seniors — knew they were that good. But not in a cocky way. "A lot of the players on our team had been playing together in some capacity since probably fourth grade," said Anne (Gross) Westman. "We were very close-knit, but also very competitive. "You had two sets of sisters on the team, a strong group of seniors, and other very talented athletes," she added. "We had a lot of extremely competitive 'hate to lose' players, which also helped. Our coaches pushed us hard, and expected the best from us." Miller said it wasn't so much about coaching with the team. Sometimes it was just about staying focused on the task at hand. "Everyone knew how great they were," Miller said. "My job with them was trying to bring them together as a team and trying to get them to believe they could take the next step. It was that little bit of extra competitive fire inside of them that maybe we didn't have through their junior year. "They were just so determined as seniors. We had to try to keep it under control with them and not let their heads get too big," she added. Given the lopsided scores, there were plenty of quick matches that season. "And they would play a game on how fast they could beat a team," Miller said of her team. "It was trying to control some of that stuff. We laugh constantly about little things that I would make them run for, or things I said to them to try and keep them reigned in and under control. "But everyone knew how talented they were. It was just some little things they had to take care of." Many teams have the talent to just "roll the ball out on the floor" and win. But each of the players also admit it ran deeper than that. "One of the best parts about our team was our friendships," Annie (Bockrath) McDonnell said. "Most of us had been playing together for eight years, creating a connection within the game. But more importantly, we had a close bond as a team and that extended to Coach Miller and the assistants. "It was natural for us to have fun and enjoy our time together, all while working hard for each other. The victories were sweeter because of the relationships." Everything about the trip to state was memorable. Along with St. Paul and Huron, cross-town Norwalk High School had also reached the Div. II state semifinals, giving three area teams within 12 miles of each other — and plenty of family and friends — a weekend at Wright State University. "It felt surreal, the send-off, the bus ride down, getting into the hotel rooms," Caprara said. "It felt like the whole town of Norwalk was there, which was also so special because they made it, too." But of all the memories, few can top the actual championship match — and rightfully so. There was one loss between the two teams entering the matchup. St. Paul finished ranked No. 1 in the final state coaches poll, and Marion Local was No. 2. And, of course, both had the Flyers nickname. It was then somewhat of a surprise when Marion Local landed the first punch, somewhat cruising to a 15-9 win in the first set. Things were going back and forth tied at 8-8 in the second set when official Mike Rouse fell ill to a heart problem. He later walked off on his own and was treated and released from the hospital, but there was a long delay in the match. Both teams were allowed to go to the locker room during the stoppage. Setter Angie (Camp) Kalizewski remembers telling Miller and assistant coach Karin Welch not to enter. The team needed to talk amongst themselves. "I do remember walking in and they said, 'No, let us talk first,'" Miller said. "So I let them go at each other for a little bit. That's what they needed though. They had gotten to a point where that fire was there on their own. From there, they weren't going to be denied." When the match resumed, St. Paul scored the first four points, then held on for a 15-13 win to force a winner-take-all third set. But again, in an instant, it was a 5-0 lead for Marion Local. St. Paul settled in and eventually turned a 10-8 deficit into a 12-10 lead. The two teams traded points before senior Kristen (Playko) Weintraut drilled a kill down the middle for a 14-11 lead. Again Local rallied to within 14-13, but three thrilling sideouts followed, capped by Jordan (Centers) Mayer putting down the championship-clinching kill — her 14th of the third set alone and 25th of the match. "There were so many great memories over that weekend, but turning it around to win the state title the way we did has to be it," McDonnell said. "It took a lot of grit and determination by all of us. The moment the match point was scored and the celebration that followed will forever be my best memory." Camp, who had 45 assists in the title match, and Jordan Centers were selected to the All-Ohio first team. Both are in the St. Paul Hall of Fame as individual athletes. Bockrath was third team, Kristen Playko was honorable mention and Miller was the state Coach of the Year. The seniors on the team included McDonnell, Kalizewski, Mayer, Westman, Nikki (Keller) Dutcher, Playko, Kristen (Ridge) Sharer and Caprara. Dallas (Niedzwiecki) Walsh was the lone junior, while sophomores included Leah Schaffer, Megan (Centers) Bond and Katie (Playko) Meiner. "We had such a strong bond that went far beyond the court," Caprara said. "We cared for each other like sisters, celebrated each other's accomplishments, and used our competitive nature against opponents and not each other." The 2002 team also served as a breaking of a glass ceiling for the program as well. St. Paul returned to the state semifinals five times over the next nine years after 2002, with one more state title (2006) and three more runners-up (2004, 2007, 2009) finishes. "The stars finally aligned for our team, but our success was built on an amazing program that started years before us," Caprara said. "Hard work and dedication is something that was instilled in us. Winning state showed teams after us that it was an attainable goal. "In a way we changed a mindset and showed others how you can believe in teammates and make it all the way to state." As the team relives the 20-year anniversary, Westman also recalled some of the immediate moments after the title. "After we got our medals, I remember going upstairs to see all of our parents and friends who had supported us through our entire careers," Westman said. "My dad (Matt) told me, 'You're going to remember this moment for the rest of your lives.' "He was right."