Bishop McGuinness volleyball squad breaks 20-year title drought with Class 5A championship triumph

Irish get redemption from last season's title-match loss with four-set win against Tulsa Washington

TULSA, OKLAHOMA - It has been exactly 20 years since Bishop McGuinness' volleyball team last hoisted a state championship trophy up over their heads.

That 2003 title was the program's one and only championship in volleyball. 

The Irish had come close to breaking through over the years, but always seemed to meet up with a brick wall. That included last season’s run to the championship match where they fell to Mount Saint Mary’s.

Things were a little different for No. 1 Bishop McGuinness this year because they were the favorites to win it all in Class 5A. But facing No. 3 Tulsa Booker T. Washington in the title match Saturday, the Irish not only had a chance to end a two-decade drought, but get redemption from last season.

That is exactly what the Irish did as they defeated the Hornets, 3-1, to claim the 2023 5A state championship on the Tulsa Union campus.

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“Since last year we lost it, it really means a lot,” said McGuinness' Hailey Jayne Johnson. “Especially being a senior and having our last chance to finally win and having such a great team. Especially for the people that were on the state team last year.

"It just pushed us to want it even more, especially because the team we lost to (Mount Saint Mary's) got bumped up to 6A. So, we knew that we had a chance to win this year.”

Bishop McGuinness players celebrate after winning the Class 5A volleyball title Oct. 21, 2023

While Booker T. Washington (28-12) was able to put up a fight early on, Bishop McGuinness (31-4) kept putting pressure on the young Hornets to pull away late.

“I think (it was) staying positive the entire time,” Irish senior Clare Kierl said. “Whenever they went on runs, we continued to push back and not let them and keep our lead. Every time, we got one.” 

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The teams opened the match with a back-and-forth first set until McGuinness grabbed a 20-14 advantage. It looked like they were going to cruise to an easy set before the Hornets stormed back and tied the set at 22-all.

After a time out, the Irish reeled off the next three points to take the set, 25-22.

It was the Hornets' turn in the second set to take a lead. However, they were to hold on for the 25-21 victory as they relied on the power of sophomore Arriana Brown to come up with big points.

The outside hitter attempted to throw down spikes and kill shots each time she flew in from the right side of the court.

“We just said it's a five-set mentality,” Kierl said. “Even if they win one, we still can push no matter what. We both have an equal chance of winning.”

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McGuinness got strong backline play from Kierl, Johnson, Taylor Vann and Greer Deleon, who kept plays alive with digs and extra effort. That seemingly began to wear down the Hornets.

“That's all you ever hope as a coach is that when it comes game time, that they feel the confidence to just push as hard as they can,” Irish coach Kelli Miller said. “High school girls sometimes, I think, they overthink what's happening and (Saturday) they didn't overthink, they just played and they fought for each other and the rest worked itself out.”

The Irish took the third set, 25-17, and held a 2-1 lead. Needing only one more set to put the match away, Bishop McGuinness put together its best set of the day and won going away, 25-17.

As soon as the final point was registered, the team dogpiled each other under the net.

“It's awesome,” Johnson said. “I mean, the feeling is just unexplainable.” 

Bishop McGuinness volleyball players dogpile one another on the court after winning the Class 5A state championship Oct. 21, 2023, as Tulsa Booker T. Washington players look on in the background

-- Michael Kinney | @SBLiveOK