The Rossville Hornets won their first-ever volleyball Semi-State Championship on Saturday, defeating Northfield 3-1 in the championship game.
“It’s the first ever, and it came in a season that nobody thought we could,” Rossville head coach Lexi Ellenwood said. “It’s so special when all of the things that you said were possible at the beginning of your season are finally coming to life because everyone is buying in and believing.”
After falling in the Semi-State Championship in 2025, the Hornets finish the job in 2026.
Rossville had to win two matches on Saturday to claim the 2026 1A North Semi-State title.
“It’s mind-boggling, we’ve never won Semi-State, ever,” Rossville senior setter Tori Fadness said. “Coming out here and being able to play and put our game out there, I’m just so happy.”
The Hornets dominated Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian in the early match, sweeping the Braves.
In the championship game, the Hornets battled Northfield, who came from behind to beat South Newton 3-2 in the semifinal.
After going back-and-forth early, the Hornets took control late and took the first set 25-16.
“We knew what to exploit with their specific defense and their two really strong hitters,” Ellenwood said. “We were getting frustrated offensively because they had such a big block, which we knew coming in. We had to kind of forget the fact that we were getting blocked and recognize that clean kills aren’t the only way to win.”
The Norse battled back in the second. A late run helped them take set two 25-19 and even the match at a set apiece.
“I really think our heads got ahead of ourselves, especially winning that first set,” Fadness said. “So we just took one point at a time, and I really think that’s what helped us push and help us get that win.”
It was all Hornets in the third set as Rossville dominated to a 25-12 win.
Freshman middle blocker Mallory Edmonds came up big throughout the night, but her performance in the third set was pivotal.
Edmonds put together a string of four aces to build Rossville’s lead and help them run away with the third set.
“She came in playing like an upperclassman who’s been on the court for years,” Ellenwood said about Edmonds. “She’s great at her positions, but she’s willing to learn other skills. She’d never, on any of her club teams, been a serving middle or a passing middle and she loves those roles dearly and especially in 1A ball, she’s a monster from the service line.”
Edmonds finished the match with a championship-high 22 kills, her third 20-plus-kill match of the state tournament.
“I love a good challenge, and obviously their middle is six-foot-two, strong and she’s honestly insane,” Edmonds said. “So I took it as a challenge.”
The fourth set came down to the wire as both teams had a late lead. The score was evened at 22 all, and the Hornets found a way to take the final three points and the match.
Fittingly, the final point was an ace by Mallory Edmonds.
The Hornets’ run continues to the 1A State Championship game next week against Indianapolis Lutheran, who defeated Greenwood Christian to win the south.
The match will be played at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Rossville is looking for its first-ever volleyball State Championship. Indianapolis Lutheran will play in the State Championship for the second time, having lost to Lafayette Central Catholic in 2010.
The game will be available to listen to on WILO, with pregame coverage beginning at 11:45.
More information about the broadcast will be made available.