Linn defeats Centralia in 1A-DI state title game in three set thriller

Three TVL teams made it out of pool play in 1A-D1, which meant championship Saturday was going to be a good one.

Centralia and Blue Valley-Randolph met in the semis, and the Panthers dominated the Rams wire to wire, with a sweep, 25-8, 25-19. 

In the other semi, Linn battled with four time defending state champion, the Little River Redskins. Little River crushed Linn in set one, 25-14. But the Bulldogs rallied and took set 2, 26-24. With all eyes watching set three in the gym, Linn prevailed with a 25-21 set three victory. 

That meant for the 4th time this season, Centralia and Linn would duel, this time for the state title. The Bulldogs rode the momentum from the comeback wins over Little River, dominating Centralia in set one, 25-10. The Panthers clawed back though, rallying to take set two, 25-20. 

Set three had it all, great rallies and runs back and forth. It even had a 23-23 set score, it was all you could ask for. In all four meetings, Linn and Centralia played the full three sets. But this time the Bulldogs scored two straight points to down Centralia 25-23. 

Linn wins their first ever state title in school history on the volleyball court, while Centralia fails to capture their 16th, placing 2nd in 1A-DI for the 3rd straight season. 

Linn and Centralia played four times, all three sets, with each team winning twice, but the Bulldogs won the biggest of the four. Linn finishes the season with a record of 41-2. Centralia finishes the season at 45-2. 

Little River beat Blue Valley-Randolph in the third place game in three sets, 25-18, 23-25, 25-22. The Rams making it out of pool play for the first time in school  history, after snapping a 29-year drought get fourth and finish the season with a 33-11 record.