In a season opener that couldn't have been more highly anticipated, the Gilmour Academy varsity volleyball team dispatched of local rival Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School 3-0 in front of a raucous crowd at Lancer Gymnasium.
It marked the second straight match in which Gilmour faced NDCL as the two programs met in last season's Division II state championship match. In that epic affair, Gilmour came from behind to win a five-set thriller and claim their second state championship in program history.
The rematch of that razor-thin title match needed only three sets to determine a winner. Gilmour prevailed comfortably in the opening set before having to battle to win the second and third games (25-13, 25-23, 25-21).
Gilmour's offense hit at an efficient .294 clip for the match, led by reigning Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year Kathryn Randorf '22. Randorf had a team-high 19 kills, averaging over six per set, while hitting an impressive .432 for the match.
The Lancers put down 57 kills for the match, averaging 19 per set, as Kayla Channell '25 and Sabrina Gremm '22 added 12 and 11 kills, respectively.
Ella Jackson '25 contributed 23 assists while Laney Klika '23 led the defense with 22 digs. Anna Rarick '23 had a team-high three aces and also had six kills on 12 attempts.
Prior to the match against NDCL, Gilmour recognized Randorf's Gatorade Player of the Year honor. In a ceremony attended by Gatorade representatives, Gilmour administration and Randorf's family, the senior was presented with her Player of the Year award while a banner recognizing the achievement was also unfurled in Lancer Gymnasium.
Gilmour had been scheduled to open the regular season two days earlier at Willoughby South High School. However, that match was postponed due to a school closing at South, allowing the rematch against the Lions to become the season opener.
The schedule gets no easier for Gilmour as it now begins a three-match road trip where it will face Lake Catholic High School, Saint Joseph Academy and Padua Franciscan High School. The latter two programs made the Division I state tournament in 2020 while Lake Catholic was a Division II regional qualifier.
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