Heidelberg's Allison Gunsch, left, and Taylor Morgan attempt to block a shot by Vilseck's Marian Morris in a match in Heidelberg, on Saturday. Heidelberg won the exciting Division I match-up 21-25, 13-25, 25-10, 25-19, 15-13. At right is Christine Rodriguez. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Heidelberg's Allison Gunsch, left, and Taylor Morgan attempt to block a shot by Vilseck's Marian Morris in a match in Heidelberg, on Saturday. Heidelberg won the exciting Division I match-up 21-25, 13-25, 25-10, 25-19, 15-13. At right is Christine Rodriguez. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Vilseck's Taylor Hall, left, and Black Forest Academy's Kara Brown fight for a ball at the net in a volleyball match in Heidelberg, on Saturday. Vilseck, last year's Division I runner-up defeated the defending Division II champs 25-14, 25-23, 25-13. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Watched by teammate Maya Lowe, Heidelberg's Kylee Miller returns a Vilseck ball in an exciting Division I match in Heidelberg on Saturday. The Lady Lions prevailed over Vilseck 21-25, 13-25, 25-10, 25-19, 15-13. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Black Forest Academy's Meredith Powell, right, knocks the ball over the net against the Vilseck defense of Sidni Beaulieu-Hains, left, and Theresa Trevino. Vilseck, last year's Division I runner-up defeated the defending Division II champs 25-14, 25-23, 25-13 in Heidelberg, on Saturday. Watching the action are, from left, BFA's Kate Woodward and Kara Brown. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Vilseck's Taylor Hall, left, sets the ball as Heidelberg's Christina Meuhlbauer gets ready to block in the Division I match in Heidelberg, on Saturday. Heidelberg won 21-25, 13-25, 25-10, 25-19, 15-13. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Heidelberg's Allison Gunsch, right, knocks back a ball from Vilseck's Taylor Hall in an exciting match in Heidelberg, on Saturday. Heidelberg won 21-25, 13-25, 25-10, 25-19, 15-13. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
HEIDELBERG, Germany — Homecoming weekend at Heidelberg couldn’t have been scripted better for the Lady Lions’ volleyball team as it stayed unbeaten by knocking off last year’s Division I runner-up, Vilseck, and the defending D-II champ, Black Forest Academy, in a three-team match Saturday.
In the most exciting match, it looked like Vilseck was going to make quick work of the home team after marching through the first two games, 25-21 and 25-13.
In a pair of must-win games in the best-of-five match, the Lady Lions rode the strong serving of senior Maya Lowe, who finished the match with six aces, to roar past Vilseck 25-10 and 25-19.
“After the first two games, we thought ‘This is so easy,’ but once the third game came [Heidelberg] stepped it up,” said Vilseck senior middle blocker Anna Muzzy, the lone 2009 first-team all-Europe player who returned to DODDS-Europe volleyball this year.
Muzzy’s 17 kills and two aces in the match weren’t enough, though as the Lady Lions squeaked out the final game, 15-13.
“We knew we could do better, the early game jitters were gone,” Heidelberg junior outside hitter Allison Gunsch said of her team’s comeback. “We went for everything and kept the spirit up, it was great play by the whole team.”
Gunsch finished the match with 18 kills and 11 blocks, while junior Taylor Morgan had 12 blocks and Kylee Miller 13 assists for Heidelberg.
Vilseck coach Brian Swenty said he wouldn’t be surprised if the two teams face each other again for the championship.
“We have what it takes to be successful,” he said. “We just have to play and practice together more.”
Vilseck quickly regrouped from the loss to clip the wings of the BFA Falcons in a three-game sweep, 25-14, 25-23 and 25-13.
“I kind of feel we were beat against Vilseck before we started,” said BFA coach Pat Woodward.
But the scrappy Falcons came back fighting against Heidelberg, pushing the Lady Lions to the limit.
“Wake up and start playing!” Heidelberg coach Mike Rubino screamed to his team after it fell behind 16-14 in the match’s first game.
The Lady Lions responded by earning a hard-fought sweep, 25-23, 25-22, 25-14.
Gunsch’s 12 kills and two aces led the Lady Lions while Carrie Smith had seven kills and two aces.
BFA frequently rotated players through the match, something senior Eliza Garrity said is a hallmark of the Falcon squad.
“That’s what we’re about, being a team instead of a group of star hitters,” said Garrity.
The DODDS-Europe volleyball championships are Nov. 4-6 at Kaiserslautern.
