This past weekend, the girls’ volleyball team left a mark in their legacy, capping off an incredible season with a regional championship and a trip to the state tournament. Even though the girls fell just short in the state finals last weekend, they have had an extraordinary season.

For the first time since 2007, Mentor volleyball advanced to the state tournament.

“It feels amazing to win regionals because our team has been working so hard this year and put in so much effort for that moment,” said Melody Garrett, one of the seniors on the team on how it felt to win the regionals game. “To do it in my senior season along with the other four seniors was so special. We’ve wanted to make a state run every year, and to finally do it makes me feel very accomplished.”

The regional final game was one to remember.

“You could tell that both teams wanted it so badly,” Melody recalled. “When we won that last point, the realization hit, we’re heading to states. The emotion in that moment was indescribable.”

This win was especially meaningful for head coach Samantha Weaver, who was a player on Mentor’s 2007 team, which was the last to make a state appearance before this year.

“It was such a full-circle moment,” Melody shared. “Our coach got to experience going to states again, but this time as a coach. Everyone was overwhelmed with pride.”

Throughout the season, the girls grew together as a team.

“At the start of the season, we were still figuring out how to play together,” Melody said. “But as the season went on, we grew closer on and off the court. We all act like sisters, and that connection really made us stronger.”

Their bond grew so close together, and this pushed them to win the regionals for each other.

“In the final moments of the regional championship game,” Melody said, “the one thing that was going through my mind was ‘Do it for the person next to me.’ Whether that is one of my best friends or my sister.”

Though the season ended with a tough loss in the state finals, the Cardinals’ remarkable run has left a lasting legacy.

“Bringing home a state title would have been the best reward,” Melody reflected. “But even finishing second shows how much we’ve grown and how hard we’ve worked. We made history, and we made our community proud.”

Congratulations to the girls for all of their hard work this season!