Magic upset top seed in semis, win title

Mercy was clearly a .500 team, posting a record of 6-6 in the IAAM B Conference, but on Oct. 31, the Magic stunned an undefeated Maryvale Preparatory School, Brooklandville, team by handily defeating the top seed 25-23, 25-19 and 25-21 to advance to the finals match-up against Baltimore Lutheran on Nov. 3 at Villa Julie College, Stevenson.

The stands were packed as the Magic dropped the first game to the Saints 21-25, but the tide turned and the Magic ran off three straight wins, 25-15, 25-20 and 25-16, to capture their first volleyball championship title in a decade.

“All of our girls played well,” said head coach Michele Wittgreen, “but our two sophomores Caitlin Herman and Ava Tragaser really came on strong and stepped up toward the end of the season.”
Wittgreen, in her ninth year as head coach, also credited the team’s setter, Natalie Zoppo, with key contributions throughout the season and into postseason play.

In other finals action, the Towson Catholic Owls placed second to Annapolis Area Christian School in the IAAM C Conference, and the Archbishop Spalding Cavaliers placed second to St. Paul’s School for Girls in the A Conference finals.