Unity comes up short in GICAA state playoffs

This was not where the Unity Christian volleyball team wanted its season to end — on its home floor and a trip to the Final Four on the line. But coach Trish Abston was still proud of what she saw from her team Tuesday.

The Lady Lions fell in the GICAA Division I state quarterfinals, losing to John Hancock Academy in four sets, 14-25, 25-18, 14-25, 14-25. The loss comes less than a week after they defeated Shiloh Hills to win the North Region title.

“I am just so incredibly proud of my girls,” Abston said. “I think we were all hoping to make it to the Final Four, so a lot of tears have been shed. We’ve just become so close as a team and we just were not ready for this to end.”

Kristina Groux led the way for Unity with five kills and 26 digs in the match, while Bella Posey had 27 digs and two aces. Mary Nance recorded two kills, 10 assists and seven digs, while Anna Kate Yadkowski had five kills and six digs.

Facing a large Unity crowd, the visiting Lady Rebels notched a 10-0 run midway through the first set to pick up the early 1-0 lead. But the Lady Lions (7-12) fought back, using excellent play at the net to break away in the second set and tie up the match.

The final two sets, however, mirrored the first as Hancock made big runs to win the match. Too many times the Lady Rebels responded to Unity’s attacks with big hits at the net to lead to the eventual outcome.